School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: June 2, 2021 Time: 6:30PM 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 6:33 p.m., members present were, namely: Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay and Mayor Leahy. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Spotlight on Excellence: Recognition of 2020-2021 Lowell Public School Retirees The first Spotlight on Excellence featured the Lowell Public School Retirees. Mayor Leahy thanked the retirees who were present in the chamber as well at the retirees who weren’t in attendance for their dedication to the students and wished them well. 3.2. Superintendent's Evaluation Each Committee member addressed the Superintendent and explained their rating and provided feedback to the Superintendent explaining how they came to each ranking in each category. Superintendent Boyd stated that the feedback was accepted and he believes that the district as a whole responded admirably under the extreme conditions of the pandemic and that staff and families rose to the challenge on behalf of the children. He concluded his statement by stating that now is the time to move forward. Ms. Clark made a motion to approve a proficient rating for the Superintendent’s evaluation; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 5) 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the FY22 Budget Session of Monday, May 17, 2021 Ms. Martin made a motion to accept and place on file the Minutes of the FY22 Budget Session of Monday, May 17, 2021, and the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled and the Special School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, May 19, 2021; seconded by Ms. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Ms. Martin made a motion to accept and place on file the Minutes of the FY22 Budget Session of Monday, May 17, 2021, and the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled and the Special School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, May 19, 2021; seconded by Ms. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.3. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Ms. Martin made a motion to accept and place on file the Minutes of the FY22 Budget Session of Monday, May 17, 2021, and the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled and the Special School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, May 19, 2021; seconded by Ms. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: June 2, 2021 Ms. Martin made a motion to remove Empower Schools Inc. in the amount of $20,000 from the Permission to Enter and to approve the remaining items on the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. Donell Boykins, Lowell High School Student 6.2. Gary Buckley, Retired Lowell High School Teacher 7. MOTIONS 7.1. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request this statement be added to the district’s policy and governance document: Lowell Public Schools is committed to environmentally-friendly management of its resources, which includes recycling as well as disposing yard waste into the compost stream. Ms. Doherty stated that this will be added as an agenda item at the Joint Facilities Subcommittee meeting with the City Council. Ms. Doherty 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 3 of 5) 7.2. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with a report on the number of high school students failing two or more core classes this year and compare it to the last three years. Superintendent Boyd stated that Dr. Guillory will be providing the Committee with a KPI report at the June 16, 2021 School Committee meeting and some of this information will be included in the KPI report. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.3. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent develop a Whistleblower Protection Policy to bring before the committee for approval. Ms. Clark stated that the state currently has a law that covers this. Mayor Leahy is going to find out what the city follows and report back to the Committee. Ms. Doherty withdrew the motion. 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. Summer School Update Ms. Desmond, Chief Financial Officer provided the Committee with an update on Summer School that included the following:  Locations  Staffing  Enrollment Capacity  Curriculum and Professional Development  Transportation  COVID 19 Protocols  Community Partners  Next Steps Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 and 8.2 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2. 2021 Lowell High School Commencement Superintendent Boyd informed the Committee that Lowell High School’s graduation will take place on Monday, June 14th at 4:00 p.m. for C & D Houses and the Career Academy and at 7:00 p.m. for E & B Houses. The graduation will be held at the Edward A. LeLacheur Park. Mayor John Leahy, Brian Martin & Boston Mayor Kim Janey will be the Commencement Speakers. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 and 8.2 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 5) 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Budget Transfer Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve a budget transfer of $2,626,348.20; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 10. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 10.1. The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell Hereby Donate Thirteen [13] Sick Leave Days to Myrna Carrasco McAuliffe School Paraprofessional. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion approve; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 5) 11. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Lay made a motion to adjourn at 8:37 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