School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: May 5, 2021 Time: 6:30PM Location: Virtual Meeting https://lowell-k12-ma- us.zoom.us/j/82331232229?pwd=NXpoYnpDUitLa0tidVVxMGRTMWlXdz09 Passcode: 873259 Pursuant To Governor Baker's Emergency Order Modifying The State's Open Meeting Law Issued March 12, 2020, Meetings Will Be Held Using Remote Participation As Follows: Members Of The Public May Not Participate In-Person And May View The Meeting Via LTC.ORG (On-Line; Live Streaming Or Local Cable Channel 99) And Zoom. 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:45 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin and Ms. Clark. One seat is temporarily vacant due to a resignation. 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. 3.2. First Reading and Discussion of FY22 Budget Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provided a presentation to the Committee on the FY21/22 Budget. The presentation included the following:  External Budget Timeline  Summary of Revenue  Timing of Revenue  Revenue Change Spreadsheet  What you will find in the budget book  Budget Book Table of Contents  Things to know about the budget summary document  DESE Chart of Accounts  FSF Funding Summaries by School Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 6)  What is Fund Management  Chapter 70 Changes  ESSER Spending Plan  Five Districtwide investments funded by ESSER The breakdown of revenue sources are as follows: 1. FY21/22 Chapter 70 – General Fund/Local Fund dollars (Increased $11.5 million to $178.5 million Chapter 70 due to Student Opportunity Act) 2. Grants – FY21-23 ESSER II Funds ($17.8 million), FY21-24 ESSER III Funds ($40.2 million), FY21-22 ESSA (Title grants $7.3 million) The Table of Contents in the Budget Book is as follows:  Section 1: Superintendent’s Letter  Section 2: Overview  Section 3: Budget Document  Section 4: Fair Student Funding Overview  Section 5: Fair Student Funding Summaries (for all schools)  Section 6: Fair Student Funding School Site Budgets  Section 7: ESSER II and ESSER III Plans  Section 8: Grant Summary  Section 9: Staff Salaries (General Fund) The Budget included eighty-one (81) new recommend positions. The positions are as follows:  Virtual Academy Teachers 16 $1,560,000.00  Virtual Academy Administrator 1 $ 120,000.00  Clerk – Reengagement Center 1 $ 48,000.00  Parent Ombudsman 1 $ 48,000.00  Director of Technology 1 $ 120,000.00  Lead Data Analyst 1 $ 80,000.00  Data Analyst 3 $ 270,000.00  Director of Alternative Education 1 $ 110,000.00  Deputy CAO 1 $ 130,000.00  District Safety Coordinator 1 $ 120,000.00  CLSP Coordinator 1 $ 100,000.00  Climate Specialist 6 $ 420,000.00  Student Outreach Liaison 1 $ 50,000.00  Bilingual Family Liaisons 7 $ 350,000.00  Parent Academy Director 1 $ 120,000.00  Parent Academy Stipends $ 85,600.00  Twilight After School Program $1,700,000.00  Summer Program $1,100,000.00  Academic Coaches 3 $ 300,000.00  Professional Development $3,137,682.00  Digital Investment $1,500,000.00 Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6)  HVAC Investment $14,960,048.00  Health $ 373,600.00  Social Workers 43 $ 4,234.000.00  VA Guidance Counselor 1 $ 110,000.00 Ms. Clark made a motion to accept the report as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, April 21, 2020 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, April 21, 2021; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: May 5, 2021 Ms. Clark made a motion to approve the Community Teamwork Inc. contract on the Permission to Enter in the amount of $9,613.00; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 4 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Doherty, Ms. Martin), 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the remaining items on the Permission to Enter; seconded by Ms. Martin. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 6. MOTIONS 6.1. [By Mayor John Leahy]: To have the Office of the Superintendent and the Lowell School Committee identify a date in early June as a Day of Appreciation for all LPS staff. Mayor Leahy made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 6.2. [By Andy Descoteaux]: With the significant upgrade in the district's internet ability, can Supt. Boyd look into the feasibility of e-books for our middle and high school students. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 6) 7. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 7.1. Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices Ms. Phillips, Chief Equity & Engagement Officer provided a Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices report to the Committee. The report included the following:  Overview of Planning Team  Review of Demographic Data  Review of Key Student Data  Vision of the Lowell Public Schools Portrait of a Graduate  Defining of Culture, Language and Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices (CLSP)  Overview of the Proposed CLSP Plan Mr. Dillon made a motion to send this to an Equity & Access Subcommittee for further discussion; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 7.1 through 7.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 7.2. Districtwide Key Performance Indicators 3rd Quarter Review Ms. Desmond, Chief Academic Officer provided an update to the Committee on the Districtwide Key Performance Indicators 3rd Quarter Review. The update included the following:  Key Performance Indicators  MCAS Update Committee members asked about being able to opt out of the MCAS. Superintendent Boyd informed them that there is no formal process, but the district has been respecting and supporting family’s requests. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 7.1 through 7.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 7.3. Personnel Report The Personnel Report officially informs the Committee of all retirements, resignations, promotions and new hires. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 7.1 through 7.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 6) 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.1. Approval of Summer Volunteer Work Pay Rates Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer informed the Committee that January 2020, the minimum hourly wage in Massachusetts increased to $12.75 per hour. He stated that in January 2021, it rose to $13.50 per hour and will go to $14.25 per hour in January 2022. According to the Department of Labor Standards (“Applicability of M.G.L.c 151 to Town Employees”), Legislative intent excludes state employees from the Commonwealth’s minimum wage which extends to employees of municipalities. He stated that it is important that we continue to provide competitive wages to our staff in order to attract the quality employees needed to provide the best instruction possible. Dr. Hall requested the following vote of the School Committee:  To increase the rate for paraprofessionals for summer school work from $15.00 per hour to $20.00 per hour for summer school 2021. This increase will help the district remain competitive with other employment opportunities both in the public sector and private sector. Currently, many positions are unfilled for paraprofessionals this summer, including many positions working in special education and not only are we competing against other employment positions, but also against opportunities for rest, leisure, and family time. Many paraprofessionals also took on expanded roles during this school year, which has raised pay expectations and lowered the supply of those willing to work for $15.00 per hour this summer.  To approve the following hourly rates of pay for volunteer summer work for cafeteria employees:  DRIVER: $20.00/hour  CAFETERIA WORKER: $20.00/hour  COOK: $22.00/hour These rates of pay per hour will be in effect from June 17, 2021 until the day before the start of the 2021/2022 school year. These are also the same rates that were approved for volunteer work last summer. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the Summer Volunteer Work Pay Rates; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 8.2. Budget Transfer Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve a budget transfer of $1,670,727; seconded by Ms. Clark. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED 9. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 9.1. The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell Hereby Donate Fifteen [15] Sick Leave Days to Dorothy Miller Bartlett School Teacher Mr. Dillon made a motion approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) 10. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to adjourn at 9:22 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy 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