School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: November 18, 2020 Time: 6:30PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:32 p.m., members present were, namely: Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty and Mr. Hoey 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Communication Remote Participation: Members of the public may view the meeting via LTC and those wishing to speak regarding a specific agenda item shall register to speak in advance of the meeting by sending email to the Superintendent indicating the agenda item, a phone number and email address so we can provide a zoom link to access the meeting. Email address is mpalazzo@Lowell.k12.Ma.us if no access to email you may contact us at 978-674-4324. All Requests must be submitted before 3:00 PM on The Day of Meeting. 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, November 4, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of November 4, 2020 and the Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes of the Lowell School Committee of November 4, 2020 and to place them on file; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, November 4, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of November 4, 2020 and the Regular Scheduled Meeting Minutes of the Lowell School Committee of November 4, 2020 and to place them on file; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 7) 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: November 18, 2020 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. Matthew Meehan Turco, Son of Adult Education Teacher, Collen Turco 6.2. Mary Beth O’Neil, Retired Lowell High School Teacher 7. SUBCOMMITTEES 7.1. School Improvement and Performance Management Subcommittee: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of Thursday, October 29, 2020[Connie Martin, Chairperson] Ms. Martin reported out on the School Improvement and Performance Management Subcommittee at the November 4, 2020 School Committee meeting. Ms. Martin asked about the report discussed at the Subcommittee that the Committee was going to receive in mid-November. Dr. Guillory stated that the Committee can expect it in mid-December. Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the report as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.2. Joint Facilities and Board of Health Subcommittee Meeting: Report and Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of Monday, November 2, 2020 [Robert J. Hoey, Chairperson] Chairperson Hoey stated that Ms. Keegan, Chairperson of the Board of Health informed the Subcommittee that presently we are setting a national record with more and more cases of COVID-19 every day. He reported that Ms. Keegan stated that rates have risen 300% in the last two (2) months. He also stated that case rates are not the only issue as we are also dealing with infection rates and if its community or cluster spread. The City of Lowell is seeing community spread and not clustered because it is not being caused by jails or Universities. He stated the Ms. Keegan reported that the numbers coming out of the Department of Health (DPH) are real and need to be trusted. He concluded the report stating that Superintendent Boyd stated that the district scaled back from 25% to 3% after receiving the recommendation from the Board of Health and he would like to bring back as many people from the 3% to 25% safely by using the Department of Elementary and Secondary of Education (DESE) requirements as well as three (3) weeks of data. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 7) Mr. Dillon made a motion to review the three (3) weeks of case rate data as well as consider the community wide spread to determine when a system should first go back to 25% or greater in-person learning, after consultation with the Health Department and/or Board of Health; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Clark made a motion to accept the report as a report of progress; seconded by Ms. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.3. Family & Community Engagement Subcommittee: Report and Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of Monday, November 9, 2020 [Hilary Clark, Chairperson] Chairperson Clark informed the Committee that Portrait of a Graduate is a large initiative that began in January. She stated that the process is to empower families and the community as well as to address inequities in the Lowell Public Schools. She stated that we are presently at 50% completion of the Portrait. She stated that it is a community-driven process that will define success for Lowell students that includes values, knowledge, skills, and work habits that they will need to thrive as leaders and workers in the 21st century. Chairperson Clark concluded by saying that this has been an incredible partnership with Project Learn and that they have helped to bring this to fruition. Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the report as a report of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. Discussion on School Re-Opening Phase 2: Options for Expanding In-Person Learning When Health Data Supports Physically Being in Buildings. The following people registered and spoke on agenda item Discussion on School Re-Opening Phase 2: Options for Expanding In-Person Learning When Health Data Supports Physically Being in Buildings: Erin McGrath Paul Georges Caitlin Kullberg Kathryn Urbine Heather Green Laura Katz Aaron King Michael Rhoads Superintendent Boyd provided the Committee with the School Opening Phase 2 report. The report included the following:  Guiding Principles  Consultation with Local Health Experts  Summary of Re-Opening Phase 1 Model Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 7)  Lessons Learned from Phase 1  Instructional Models Implemented in Other Districts  Updated Information on Health and Safety Since Adoption of Phase 1 Plan  Challenges and Opportunities of Each Instructional Model for Phase 2  Next Steps Ms. McLaughlin, Morey School Principal, Mr. McCrevan, Washington School Principal, Mr. Stahl, Wang School Principal and Mr. Fiato, Head of School, Lowell High School also addressed the Committee speaking about what they’ve learned and what our families need moving forward. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.4 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty made a motion to change the regular Lowell School Committee meeting scheduled for December 2, 2020 to December 9, 2020; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2. Report on Motions Superintendent Boyd provided the Committee with an updated report on the status of outstanding motions and asked the Committee if they had any concerns or questions. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.4 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2.1. Response to Motion 7. COO Of 10/21/20 by Mike Dillon Jr.: Request that the Facilities Department notify the Superintendent and School Committee of any plans to use Lowell School buildings for any purpose other than in-person schooling for LPS students. Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer provided a report to the Committee that informed them that the Athletic Department proposes offering the Winter Sports utilization of the Riddick Field House, gyms at the Robinson Middle School and Reilly Elementary School, and other off-campus venues. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.4 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2.2. Response to Motion 5.CAO Of 05/06/20 by Andy Descoteaux: Ask the Superintendent to ask DESE if what we can develop as a plan for remote learning could be used to cover snow days; thereby eliminating the need to make up snow days at the end of the year. Ms. Desmond, Chief Academic Officer provided the Committee a report that informed them that in the October 19, 2020 Commissioner’s Update, News from Commissioner Jeffrey C. Riley and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), guidance was provided on snow days. It was stated that, the DESE’s regulations for remote learning may include synchronous or Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 7) asynchronous components, provided that students have opportunities to regularly interact with teachers, such as thorough feedback, office hours, and other regularly scheduled individual student interactions. Remote learning models must include the following components: 1. procedures for all students to participate in remote learning, including a system for tracking attendance and participation; 2. remote academic work shall be aligned to state standards; 3. a policy for issuing grades for students' remote academic work; and 4. teachers and administrators shall regularly communicate with students and their parents and guardians, including providing interpretation and translation services to limited English proficient parents and guardians. The enclosed School Committee policy and regulations, “School Cancellation & 1 hour or 2 hour Delay”, establish options for the Superintendent to exercise when weather conditions dictate a change. It is recommended that the policy be amended, for the pandemic, to allow for remote learning to take place on days when weather conditions dictate a change in the normal opening of the school day. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.4 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2.3. Response to Motion 8.COO Of 10/21/20 By Mike Dillon Jr.: Request that the Facilities Department notify the Superintendent and School Committee of any plans to use Lowell School buildings for any purpose other than in-person schooling for LPS students. Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer provided a report to the Committee that informed them that we are partnering with CVS to offer influenza vaccines to our students, families, and other staff members. Due to immediate need for the vaccines by the end of the calendar year, we have arranged an additional fourteen (14) flu clinics running from December 5 – 12 at twelve (12) different schools across the district. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.4 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.3. List of Eligible Teachers The List of Eligible Teachers officially informs the Committee of all eligible teachers by subject and grade. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.4 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.4. Personnel Report The Personnel Report officially informs the Committee of all retirements, resignations, promotions and new hires. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.4 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 7) 8.5. Home Education Superintendent Boyd recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Leah Snelders 1007 Central Street Emily Soleil 237 Acropolis Road Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Permission to Post: Early College Lowell Tutor The salary is $30 an hour with total compensation not to exceed $1500.00 for the school year. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Permission to Post: Early College Lowell Tutor; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.2. Permission to Post: Early College Lowell Coach The salary is $30 an hour with total compensation not to exceed $1500.00 for the school year. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Permission to Post: Early College Lowell Coach; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.3. Permission to Post: Part-Time Computer Repair Technician The position is for $25.00 an hour for 18 hours per week (school year). Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Permission to Post: Two (2) Part-Time Computer Repair Technicians; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 10. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 10.1. The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell Hereby Donate Sixty [60] Sick Leave Days to Jackie Murphy, McAvinnue School Paraprofessional. Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 7 of 7) 11. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Clark made a motion to adjourn at 9:58 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Respectfully submitted, Joel D. Boyd, Ed.D., Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee JDB/mes Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us