School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: February 3, 2021 Time: 6:30PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 (In the Mayor’s discretion, the meeting may be move to the following Zoom room, if conditions require such a change). Join Zoom Meeting https://lowell-k12-ma- us.zoom.us/j/82866284790?pwd=NjhhS251ckxKMldGSHZCMWl5Qm9DUT09 Meeting ID: 828 6628 4790 Passcode: 992881 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:37 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Hoey, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark and Mr. Descoteaux. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. 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 Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, January 20, 2021 Ms. Clark made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, January 20, 2021 and the two (2) Special School Committee Meetings of January 25, 2021; 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 8) 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, January 25, 2021 Ms. Clark made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, January 20, 2021 and the two (2) Special School Committee Meetings of January 25, 2021; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.3. Approval of the Minutes of the Joint Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, January 25, 2021 Ms. Clark made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, January 20, 2021 and the two (2) Special School Committee Meetings of January 25, 2021; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: February 3, 2021 Ms. Clark made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Mr. Hoey) APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. A. Patricia Caron, Retired Molloy School Secretary And Mother Of Ann Murphy, Retired Assistant Superintendent And Patricia Myers, Retired STEM District Specialist. 6.2. Barbara (Rooney) Sergi, Retired Robinson School Reading Teacher. 6.3. Kathleen E. Hunt, Retired Bartlett School Teacher. 6.4. Eugene Gignac, Uncle of Robert Gignac, Former School Committee Member 7. MOTIONS 7.1. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent work with school leadership and student advisory teams at LHS to organize a virtual listening session with students and the school committee to discuss remote learning concerns, options and plans going forward. Ms. Ali Rivera registered and spoke on this motion. Ms. Doherty 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 3 of 8) 7.2. [By Jackie Doherty]: Direct the Superintendent to send a letter to Governor Baker on behalf of the Lowell School Committee requesting that teachers in urban and low-income districts be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination distribution as a critical component to safely returning children to in-person learning. Copy the letter to the Lowell Statehouse Delegation, the City Council, City Manager, and Board of Health. The maker of the motion made the following change with no objection: Direct the Superintendent to send a letter to Governor Baker on behalf of the Lowell School Committee requesting that school staff in urban and low-income districts be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination distribution as a critical component to safely returning children to in-person learning. Copy the letter to the Lowell Statehouse Delegation, the City Council, City Manager, and Board of Health. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.3. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent work with the City Manager to determine if and how staff immunizations can be expedited or prioritized for school-based staff who are serving our most vulnerable students. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.4. [By Hilary Clark]: Request the superintendent explore the cost and benefits of a data visualization tool, where data from various source systems can be pulled into developed dashboards to provide useful information that can be rolled up, sliced, and filtered based on user access and need. Ms. Clark made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.5.[By Hilary Clark]: Require school committee members participate in an annual retreat for professional development purposes in collaboration with the superintendent. Topics may include:  basic roles and responsibilities  protocols and norms  key public policy issues  parliamentary procedure  anti-racism, unconscious attitudes and implicit bias training (mandated by motion approved on July 15, 2020) The maker of the motion made the following change with no objection: Require school committee members participate once per term in a retreat for professional development purposes in collaboration with the superintendent. Topics may include: Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 8)  basic roles and responsibilities  protocols and norms  key public policy issues  parliamentary procedure  anti-racism, unconscious attitudes and implicit bias training (mandated by motion approved on July 15, 2020) Ms. Clark made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.5.1. [By Connie Martin]: For the Lowell School Committee to establish a 48 hour minimum for all meeting agendas and materials to be publicly posted for all School Committee, Subcommittee and Special Meetings, in accordance with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law and reflective of our commitment to transparency in government. Ms. Martin stated that the bylaws voted on by the Committee will still be followed for the regularly scheduled School Committee meetings. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 8. SUBCOMMITTEES 8.1. Equity & Access Subcommittee: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of Wednesday, January 13, 2021 [Jackie Doherty, Chairperson] Ms. Doherty, Chairperson of the Equity & Access Subcommittee reported out on the Equity & Access Subcommittee at the January 20, 2021 School Committee meeting. Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept the report as a report of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty 7yeas APPROVED 9. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 9.1. COVID-19 Data Monitoring Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer gave the Committee a COVID-19 Data monitoring update that included the Average Daily Incidence Rate per 100,000 and Percent Positivity Rate. It also reported the number of total staff and students as reported to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) of positive COVID cases, total number of quarantined due to in-person instruction, total number of quarantined due to outside school factors, the approximate number of quarantined from September 1, 2020 through January 29, 2021, as well as COVID-19 positive cases per school from September 1, 2020 through January 29, 2021. He stated that the district applied to utilize the Abbott BinaxNOW antigen testing program for when more students are in school as well as sponsored pool testing. Lowell Public Schools also have a Covid-19 dashboard that provides data, protocols and guidelines, where to go to get tested, what to do if you test positive or if you have come in contact with someone who is positive, and information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 8) Dr. Hall stated that the goals for returning to in-person learning are February 22, 2021 (3%), March 1, 2021 (25%), and April 1, 2021 (expansion of our in-person learning model to include additional students beyond those assigned to in-person learning at the beginning of the school year). He stated that the district will continue to monitor PPE availability and options, continue to meet with City personnel on facility readiness and potential improvements, monitor onsite COVID-19 testing grants and options, meet with the City to collaborate on testing capabilities, work with the city to enhance contact tracing, and provide information in regard to vaccine availability for school personnel. The report also included information from the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education regarding vaccines and eligibility. Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.2. Budget Update Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provided an update to the Committee on the budget. The update included the following:  FY21 (Current Year) Projection of Budget Busters  FY21 (Current Year) Prioritized Needs and Opportunities  State Budget Cycle  Preliminary Revenue for FY22 (Next Year)  Reminder of FY22 Baseline Budget  Suggested Budget Calendar for FY22 (Next Year) Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.3. Digital Learning Update Ms. Desmond, Chief Academic Officer provided an update on digital learning. The update included the following:  History of Lowell Public Schools Technology  Overview of New Plan Development  Timeline  Focus Areas  Next Steps Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 8) 9.4. Home Education Superintendent Boyd recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Carolynn Deshler 180 Upham Street Carolina Cruz 28 Sutherland Street Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 10. NEW BUSINESS 10.1. Delayed Bills Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer informed the Committee that per the motion made by Connie Martin on January 6th, delayed bills will be presented to the School Committee for approval prior to forwarding to the City Council (per MGL 44 S64). Ms. Turner provided a summary of such bills and included a description of what happened and what the districts recommendation is for each. She stated that each bill has been certified by the vendor. The report stated that at this time she is not aware of any other bills, but due to the unprecedented nature of last year (the pandemic), she cannot promise that more bills will not come in. Ms. Turner clarified that the School Committee does not require any additional appropriations from the City for any of the outstanding obligations. The circuit breaker revolving account that funds special education out of district costs has sufficient funds to cover the costs associated with the bills. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve $125,343.90 of unpaid obligations from FY19/20 with vendor certifications to the City CFO for approval by the City Council; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 10.2. Budget Transfer Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve a budget transfer of $47,733.70; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 10.3. Vote to Accept a Donation of $10.000 from the Billi Marcus Foundation Mr. Hoey made a motion to accept and approve a donation of $10.000 from the Billi Marcus Foundation; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 10.4. Vote to Accept Donation from Grandpa’s Family Desks Ms. Clark made a motion to accept and approve a donation from Grandpa’s Family Desks; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 7 of 8) 11. COMMUNICATIONS 11.1. Thank You Note from the Family of Glenda Ouellette for the Moment of Silence Ms. Martin made a motion to accept both communications and to place them on file; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 11.2. Letter to Governor Baker from the Merrimack Valley Superintendents Association Ms. Martin made a motion to accept both communications and to place them on file; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 7 yeas APPROVED 12. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 12.1. LSAA-Donated Sick Days The members of the Lowell School Administrator Association (LSAA) hereby request to donate fifty- three [53] sick days to Jennifer Kinsella, Special Education Social Worker. Mr. Hoey made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 8 of 8) 13. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Hoey. 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