School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: July 21, 2021 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 6:40 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Lay, Mayor Leahy, Ms. Martin, Mr. Descoteaux and Mr. Dillon. Ms. Clark and Ms. Doherty were absent. 3. MINUTES 3.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled and the Special School Committee Meetings of Wednesday, June 16, 2021 and Monday, June 24, 2021; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 3.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Monday, June 24, 2021 Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled and the Special School Committee Meetings of Wednesday, June 16, 2021 and Monday, June 24, 2021; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 4. PERMISSION TO ENTER 4.1. Permission to Enter: July 21, 2021 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Lay. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 5) 5. MEMORIALS 5.1. Florence Gallagher, Retired Bartlett School Teacher 5.2. Patricia Montgomery, Retired Murkland School Teacher 5.3. Maryalice Foley, Retired Butler School Assistant Principal 6. MOTIONS 6.1. [By Michael Dillon Jr.]: Request that the Superintendent analyze immediate arts and athletics facility improvements necessary for our extracurricular programs to thrive between now and the completion of long-term redesign and construction projects at LHS and Cawley Stadium; and request that the Committee authorize the Superintendent to collaborate with the city and immediately begin the procurement process on any such projects. Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 6.2.[By Jackie Doherty]: Request a report updating the committee on efforts to provide a more inclusive curriculum across the grades. Ms. Martin stated that she is open to this being discussed at a Curriculum Subcommittee if deemed necessary. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 6.3. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request a readable organizational chart that clearly identifies areas of responsibility and chain of command. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to refer Ms. Doherty’s motion: “Request a readable organizational chart that clearly identifies areas of responsibility and chain of command” to a Personnel Subcommittee for further discussion; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED The Committee also requested that the Update on Dropout Prevention and Re-Engagement as well as looking at providing more support to the Deans at Lowell High School be on the Personnel Subcommittee agenda. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 5) 7. SUBCOMMITTEES 7.1. Human Resources & Labor Relations Subcommittee: Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of Thursday, June 10, 2021 [Hilary Clark, Chairperson] Ms. Clark, Chairperson of the Human Resources & Labor Relations Subcommittee reported out on this at the June 16, 2021 School Committee meeting. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the report as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. Update on Dropout Prevention and Re-Engagement Ms. Desmond, Chief Academic Officer provided an update to the Committee. The report included the following: ➢ Dropout Prevention ➢ Data ➢ Staffing ➢ Resource Center Focus ➢ Next Steps Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 8.2. Update on Lowell High School Facility Improvement Mr. Underwood, Facilities Director updated the Committee on the status of the repairs and all the work that has been done at Lowell High School as well as some concerns at Cawley Stadium. Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 8.3. Update on Supplemental Resources for Renaissance Schools Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer informed the Committee that as a result of the vote taken at the June 16, 2021 School Committee meeting, funds were allocated to the school-based budgets of the six Renaissance Network. The School Site Councils convened site councils meetings to review Principal recommendations with the additional monies and the positions recommended from the school site councils were posted. Ms. Martin made a motion to accept the Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) 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. Consideration of Bills Incurred in Excess of Appropriation in Accordance with MGL 44 S64 Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve forwarding the bad bills to the City Council using Lowell Public Schools eligible funds; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 9.2. Approval of Revised Job Description for Community Schools Manager Ms. Martin made a motion to maintain the employment of the individual discussed regarding the Community Schools Manager and to include the Revised Job Description for Community Schools Manager on the agenda at the Personnel Subcommittee meeting for further discussion; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 9.3. Approval of Memorandum of Agreement with LSAA- Coordinator of Special Programs Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve the Agreement with LSAA - Coordinator of Special Programs; seconded by Mr. Lay. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 9.4. Permission to Post: Department Chair LHS Physical Education The Committee stated concerns about licensure and the Superintendent stated that the person will be made interim if they don’t meet the requirements and the word preferred will be added to licensure requirements on the posting. Superintendent Boyd will discuss this with the Head of School so he is aware that if the candidate chosen is hired as interim, the Head of School or someone he designates will have to do the evaluations. Mr. Dillon made a motion to Post: Department Chair LHS Physical Education; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED Mr. Dillon made a motion to change the School Committee meeting from the August 18, 2021 to August 11, 2021 and to add an additional meeting on August 25, 2021; seconded by Ms. Martin. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 5) 10. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Dillon made a motion to adjourn at 8:28 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Clark, Ms. Doherty) 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