School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: August 11, 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 6:41 p.m., members present were, namely: Ms. Martin, Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay and Mayor Leahy. 3. MINUTES 3.1. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Special Meeting Of The Lowell School Committee Of Tuesday, July 20, 2021 Mr. Lay made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled and the Special School Committee Meetings of Tuesday, July 20, 2021 and Wednesday, July 21, 2021; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 3.2. Approval Of The Minutes Of The Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting Of Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Mr. Lay made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes from the Regularly Scheduled and the Special School Committee Meetings of Tuesday, July 20, 2021 and Wednesday, July 21, 2021; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 4. PERMISSION TO ENTER 4.1. Permission To Enter: August 11, 2020 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Martin) APPROVED MEMORIALS Domnang Pin, Lowell Resident Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 4) 5. MOTIONS 5.1. [By Connie Martin]: Request that the existing Climate Specialist position job description be updated to reflect the School Committee's vote to include a requirement of Social Worker licensure Ms. Doherty stated that she is concerned with other posted positions as well and believes requirements have been lowered. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas, APPROVED 5.2. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent present the finalists for the Special Education Director position to the school committee. A friendly amendment was added and agreed upon to update the Committee on the candidates in Executive Session. Ms. Doherty stated that she has concerns due to the SPED Pac not being invited to participate in the interviews. Superintendent Boyd stated that he hasn’t been brief on the process yet. Superintendent Boyd responded to the friendly amendment that he will brief the Committee in Executive Session regarding the candidates once it is at that point. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 4 yeas, 3 nays (Ms. Clark, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Lay) APPROVED 5.3.[By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent confirm that all Chiefs are licensed and have the appropriate educator certifications required by the state. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 3 yeas, 4 nays (Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Lay) FAILS 6. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 6.1. Building Readiness And School Opening Update Monica Lundberg registered and spoke on this motion. Mr. Skinner, Chief Schools Officer provided an update to the Committee. The report included the following: ➢ Components of Readiness ➢ Methods of Tracking Progress ➢ Readiness Timeline ➢ What Facilities Work Looks Like Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 4) Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the Reports of the Superintendent 6.1 and 6.2 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.2. Enrollment Report The district enrollment report provided to the Committee showed the breakdown by school and grade through August 6, 2021. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the Reports of the Superintendent 6.1 and 6.2 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 7. NEW BUSINESS 7.1. First Reading Of 2021-2022 COVID-19 Safety Protocol Policy Mr. Georges registered and spoke on this motion. Ms. Clark made a motion to approve and adopt the 2021-2022 COVID-19 Safety Protocol Policy; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Mr. Dillon) APPROVED 7.2. 2021-22 Student Handbooks Ms. Clark made a motion to approve the 2021-2022 Student Handbooks with adjustments as needed; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.3. First Reading And Adoption Of Massachusetts Association Of School Committee’s Policy On Harassment (File ACAB) Ms. Clark made a motion to approve and adopt the Massachusetts Association of School Committee’s Policy on Harassment (File ACAB); seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 7.4. Disposal Of Surplus Supplies Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provide a list of materials that have were forwarded from Lowell High School that have been deemed as surplus. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Disposal of Surplus Supplies; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 4) 8. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to adjourn at 9:01 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