School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: May 10, 2021 Time: 5:00PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 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 5:09 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark and Mr. Descoteaux. One seat is temporarily vacant due to a resignation. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Public Budget Hearing No one spoke in favor or in opposition during the public hearing. Ms. Doherty made a motion to vote for the Action of Necessity, because the School Committee will be voting for their own-bottom line figure; seconded Mr. Dillon. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 1 1110: School Committee Total amount for approval $106,790 Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $106,790; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 2 1200: Superintendent $1,126,833 Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $1,126,833; 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 2 of 6) Page 3 1400: Finance and Administrative Services $2,604,421 Ms. Martin made a motion to increase the General Fund by $90,000 (Data Analyst); seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $2,694,421; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 4 1410: Finance & Operations $1,364,216 Ms. Martin made a motion to decrease the General Fund by $90,000 (Internet Service Provider) seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $1,274,216; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Doherty), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 5 2110: Instructional Leadership $2,226,101 Ms. Martin made a motion to decrease the General Fund by $61,594 (Academic Chair in Physical Education); seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $2,164,147; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 6 2200: Principals/School Leadership $8,594,723 Ms. Doherty made a motion to transfer the Associate Head of School position into the Suspense Account; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $8,464,723; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 7 2305: Personnel Classroom Teachers $98,262,488 Ms. Doherty made a motion to transfer the Virtual Academy positions into the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $98,262,488; seconded by Ms. Clark. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 8 Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6) 2305: Medical/Therapeutic Services $21,869,839 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $21,869,839; seconded by Ms. Clark. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 9 2352: Coaching Curriculum Support $2,098,395 Mr. Dillon made a motion to transfer the ESSER Funds into the Suspense Account; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $2,098,395; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 10 2410: Non-Personnel Textbooks $3,670,538 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $3,670,538; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 11 2710: Guidance Counselors 4,289,848 Ms. Doherty requested a report on how the Climate Specialists are supporting and impacting students as well as the district as a whole and why the administration believes it’s important. She also requested the job description. Ms. Doherty made a motion to transfer the School Climate Specialists positions into the Suspense Account; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $4,289,848; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 12 3100: Attendance and Parent Liaison Services $1,598,214 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to transfer the ESSER Funds into the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $1,598,214; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 6) Page 13 3300: Transportation $11,616,517 Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $11,616,517; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 14 3500: Athletics & Student Activities $1,833,372 Ms. Martin made a motion to increase the General Fund by $61,594 (Administrator of Athletics) and approve the bottom-line figure of $1,895,326; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 15 4000: Custodial & Security Services $6,074,978 Ms. Martin made a motion to transfer the Assistant Facilities Director position ($50,000) into the Suspense Account; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $6,024,978; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 16 5100/5200: Employee Benefits & Retirements $20,297,192 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $20,297,192; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 17 5350: Rental of Buildings $552,672 Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $552,672; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Page 18 7000: Capital Outlay $225,000 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $225,000; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 6) Page 19 9000: Out of District Budget $5,872,241 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $5,872,241; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Suspense Account $0 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $7,767,482; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 1 vacancy APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) 4. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to recess at 8:16 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Clark), 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