School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: September 15, 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 6:39 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. Appointment of Director of Special Education Ms. Martin made a motion to appoint Dr. Francisco Vicente as the Director of Special Education; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, August 25, 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, August 25, 2021, Monday, August 30, 2021 and Wednesday, September 1, 2021; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, August 25, 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, August 25, 2021, Monday, August 30, 2021 and Wednesday, September 1, 2021; 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 7) 4.3. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Monday, August 30, 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, August 25, 2021, Monday, August 30, 2021 and Wednesday, September 1, 2021; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.4. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, September 1, 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, August 25, 2021, Monday, August 30, 2021 and Wednesday, September 1, 2021; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: September 15, 2021 Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. Roger Dumont, Brother-in-Law of UTL Director Of Operations, Mickie Dumont 6.2. Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, Fallen Marine 7. MOTIONS 7.1. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide a Transportation Report that updates the committee on services and issues facing the department compared to the 2019-2020 school year. The report should include current challenges re general, before/after school, and special education transportation as well as key factors affecting our ability to efficiently meet our students’ transportation needs. 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 7) 7.2. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with a report on the Family Resource Center that compares current staffing levels with the 2019-2020 school year. The report should include an organizational chart that identifies titles and number of staff in each role along with lines of authority. How many are answering phones, responding to walk-ins, returning emails, and other aspects of customer service? What is the onboarding process for new staff and what ongoing professional development is being offered? In addition, the report should include how many lotteries are being held and when, and how that compares with two years ago, as well as an update on placement issues/challenges re the current school year. Ms. Doherty, Ms. Martin and Mayor Leahy all stated that they have received concerns from families and want more information to see how we can help address these concerns. Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon and Mr. Lay believed the motion asked for too much information and thought it would be too time consuming during this busy time. Mr. Dillon asked if Ms. Duda could come to a meeting to discuss these issues. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 3 yeas, 4 nays (Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Lay) FAILS 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. Improvement of School Facilities through the Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund Mr. Dillon made a motion to schedule a Facilities Subcommittee to discuss Improvement of School Facilities through the Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty requested it be a joint subcommittee with the City. Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the Report of the Superintendent 8.1 as a report of progress; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2. Home Education Superintendent Boyd recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Jennifer Spicer 22 2nd Street Barbara Rodriguez 219 Jackson Street Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 7) Lisa Jones 24 Merrimack Street Cynthai Stamp 28 Roper Street Tina Chan 74 Lincoln Street Megan Savard 139 Beech Street RyiShisa Morris 98 A Street Melissa Ice 717 Bridge Street Jessia Centeno 27 Jackson Street #430 Anne-Marie Linscott 39 N. Billerica Road Apt. 4 Sean Cooper 255 Hildreth Street Melanie Cooper 16 Epping Street Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Consideration of Increased Hourly Wages for Cafeteria Workers Dr. Hall recommended to the Committee that the minimum hourly rate of pay for cafeteria workers who are “call-ins” be increased to $15.00 per hour effective September 20, 2021. He also recommended that the minimum hourly rate for Café Temp Workers who are scheduled for 3.5 or more hours a work day, temporarily be increased to no less than $17.00 per work hour effective September 20, 2021 for the remainder of the 2021/2022 school year. Mr. Descoteaux requested that we have Aramark at the next meeting to discuss the quality of the food. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Increased Hourly Wages for Cafeteria Workers; 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 7) 9.2. Memorandum of Agreement with UTL Related to Advisor Stipends Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Memorandum of Agreement with UTL Related to Advisor Stipends; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.3. Budget Transfer Ms. Clark made a motion to approve the budget transfer of $292,998; seconded by Mr. Dillon. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.4. Appointment to the Lowell Telecommunication Board Superintendent Boyd informed the Committee that the School Committee needs to vote to appoint a representative to the Board of Directors of Lowell Telecommunication Corporation to represent the School Committee. Jennifer Myers was appointed to be on the Board of Directors of the Lowell Telecommunications Corporation. Ms. Clark made a motion to appoint Jennifer Myers to the Lowell Telecommunication Board; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 10. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 10.1. LHS- Trip To Denver, CO - Permission for Athletic Director David Lezenski to attend the National Athletic conference to be held on December 10, 2021 through December 15, 2021 in Denver, CO. There is no cost to LPS. Mr. Lezenski will cover all associated expenses. Mr. Dillon requested looking into Mr. Lezenski being able to be reimbursed. Mr. Dillon made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 11. COMMUNICATIONS 11.1. Requested Breakdown of Budget Transfer Approved on September 1, 2021 Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provided a breakdown of the budget transfer of $112,353 that was not included in last week’s packet to the Committee. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the Communications 11.1 through 11.3 and to place them on file; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 7) 11.2. Districtwide Organizational Chart Ms. Doherty provided and distributed previous organizational charts from before Superintendent Boyd was here. Ms. Doherty expressed her concern about the previous Student Support Services office and how it is broken up now and the delivery of services to our students. She stated that she would like to see an organizational chart that gives us more details. Ms. Doherty also stated that she couldn’t find the Legal Services on the chart that previously was under Student Support and that it doesn’t appear to be housed anywhere. Superintendent Boyd stated that Legal Services fall under Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Doherty made a motion to ask Superintendent Boyd to reexamine the Organizational Chart and look at ways on how it can be improved; seconded by Ms. Martin. 3 yeas, 4 nays (Ms. Clark, Mr. Descoteaux, Mr. Dillon, Mr. Lay). FAILS Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the Communications 11.1 through 11.3 and to place them on file; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED 11.3. Communication from the Law Department Ms. Doherty asked Superintendent Boyd what the next step is in regard to the communication from the Law Department that involves the titles “Chiefs” as opposed to “Assistant Superintendent”. Superintendent Boyd stated that he is reaching out to Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) for an opinion and will provide feedback to the Committee after receiving said information. Mr. Dillon made a motion to accept the Communications 11.1 through 11.3 and to place them on file; seconded by Ms. Clark. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 7 of 7) 12. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Lay made a motion to adjourn at 8:02 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