School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: March 2, 2022 Time: 6:30PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 Members Of The Public May View The Meeting Via LTC And Those Wishing To Speak Regarding A Specific Agenda Item Shall Register To Speak In Advance Of The Meeting By Sending Email To The Superintendent Indicating The Agenda Item, A Phone Number And Email Address So We Can Provide A Zoom Link To Access The Meeting. Email Address Is Mpalazzo@Lowell.k12.Ma.us If No Access To Email You May Contact Us At 978-674-4324. All Requests Must Be Submit It Before 3:00 PM On The Day Of Meeting 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:39 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Descoteaux, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Ms. Thompson, Mayor Chau and Ms. Delrossi. 3. MINUTES 3.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of Wednesday, February 10, 2022 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee on Wednesday, February 10, 2022 and the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 3.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of Wednesday, February 16, 2022 Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee on Wednesday, February 10, 2022 and the Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meeting on Wednesday, February 16, 2022; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty stated that a response to her questions from the February 16, 2022 meeting were not included for this meeting. She stated she would like the answers included at the next School Committee meeting. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 7) 4. PERMISSION TO ENTER 4.1. Ratification of Memorandum of Agreement – Lowell School Administrators Association [L.S.A.A.] Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Ratification of Memorandum of Agreement – Lowell School Administrators Association [L.S.A.A.]; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 5. MEMORIALS 5.1. Caroline Yunta, Retired Lowell High School Teacher 5.2. Suzanne Marr, Retired Shaughnessy School Paraprofessional 5.3. Kathleen (Quill) Gwiazda, Mother Of LPS Coordinator Of Mathematics K-12 Jeff Gwiazda 6. MOTIONS 6.1. [By Connie Martin]: Requesting to schedule a meeting of the Personnel and Labor Relations Subcommittee for the end of March or the beginning of April, and that we invite a representative from MASC to provide members of the school committee with training on the DESE Superintendent Performance Review process. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.2. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent effectively manage the School Committee agenda and information to the board to enable informed and efficient decision making, by providing: 1. Complete reports that cover critical aspects without being overly burdensome in length. 2. Report/data in timely manner [as per regular meeting rules; for subcommittee meetings/minimum 24 hrs. prior]. 3. Plan agenda to enable adequate time for review and discussion when critical decisions are required. Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 7 yeas APPROVED 7. SUBCOMMITTEES 7.1. School Improvement & Performance Management: Report and Approval of the Meeting of Wednesday, February 16, 2022 [Dominik H. Lay, Chairperson] Chairperson Lay informed the Committee that the theory of action was discussed as well as the following agenda items: Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 7)  Our theory of action for districtwide improvement.  Key questions that drive the development of our model of support for schools.  Characteristics of high performing schools.  Our ongoing work to build a culture of data-driven decision-making across all schools and departments.  Refining our model of differentiated support and accountability with improved access to and use of relevant data.  Next steps for translating theory into practice. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to accept the report as a report of progress; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. COVID-19 Update Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer provided the Committee with a report that gave them a COVID-19 Data monitoring update that included Lowell Public Schools COVID positive cases, Pool Testing Participation and Testing Services (symptomatic testing, “test and stay” and routine COVID Pooled testing). The report also included the number of requested at-home test kits as well as an email from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education informing the district that the CDC announced that effective February 25, 2022, it is no longer requiring that masks be worn on school buses or vans for K-12 students. Ms. Doherty made a motion to have optional mask wearing on school buses effective March 7, 2022; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to take item # 8.2 and item # 9.2 together; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2. FY23 Budget Update Superintendent Boyd gave the Committee a budget update and stated that on January 26, 2022, Governor Baker’s FY23 budget recommendations were released, including additional funding of $485.3 million over the prior year. The report stated that Lowell Public Schools’ Chapter 70 allocation is projected to increase from $178,553,488 to $200,970,019 which is a $22,416,531 increase. Some contributing factors to this net increase is due to enrollment increasing by fifty-six (56) students, resulting in an approximate $900,000 revenue increase. Ms. Thompson asked about the findings from the 2018 audit if and we can utilize any of those findings in the future. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 7) Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.3. Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices Update Ms. Phillips provided an overview on the following topics:  Review of core beliefs and fundamental commitments  Overview of Demographic Data  Review of Key Student Data  Defining Culturally Responsive and Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices  Update on the 2021-22 Strategic Goals as relates to Culturally Responsive and Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices Ms. Thompson made a motion to refer the Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices Update to the Equity & Access Subcommittee; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.3 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Budget Transfer Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the budget transfer of $114,868; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.2. Approval of Fair Student Funding Pool for FY23 Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provided a report to the Committee that included the following topics:  Determine the recommended School Based Budgets including the FSF pool and supplements.  What happens next in FSF? Weights, baseline supplements and transition policies.  Schools develop their fiscal plans with School Site Councils.  Recap of where the money comes from and where it goes.  Fair Student Funding Summaries.  Action needed. The report gave a month to month breakdown of the following action needed: Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 7)  January - update CBA, health and other contractual known increases and wait for the Governor’s numbers, review grants and revolving account balances to determine a tentative overall budget amount to start process with.  February - update with programmatic changes and determine a proposed SBB amount including FSF pool and supplements. Two (2) budget summits are held to update School Site Councils on the budget process.  March 2, we distribute the SBB amount to schools using weights, baselines and transition policies. On March 7th, we deliver allocations and workbooks to schools to work with School Site Councils from March 7th to March 22nd to translate QIP into fiscal plan.  March 22 - April 1st Schools present their budget to central office team to ensure that all curriculum, regulations, guardrails, finances and grant criteria have been met.  April/May After each school's budget has been approved, all budgets are merged into overall budget document to ensure balancing. During April, forums are held to share the draft overall comprehensive plan/budget with the parents, teachers, community and partners.  May 4th - budget is presented to SC in final draft format Public hearings are held May 18th- anticipated day of approval Shared with City Council for approval. Ms. Martin stated that she would like to hear the voices of the people included similar to last year’s process. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to increase school based budgets; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.3. Permission to Post: School Garden Coordinators Dr. Hall requested approval of the job description and posting of the position. This is a USDA grant for a positon for all of the district’s elementary and middle schools. The positions if approved would start on March 21, 2022. Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Permission to Post: School Garden Coordinators; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 9.4. Paraprofessional Substitute Pay-Request Increase Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer informed the Committee that the administration is engaged in negotiations with UTL regarding paraprofessional compensation related to the recent increases in day to day pay for substitutes within the Lowell Public Schools. He asked the Committee to approve a temporary change in Article XXXVIII, “Substituting” retroactive to February 7, 2022 to the end of the school year. Ms. Delrossi made a motion to approve the Paraprofessional Substitute Pay-Request Increase; seconded by Mr. Descoteaux. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 7) 9.5. Approval of Doctoral Research Proposal of Maggie Moriarty Liam Skinner, Chief Schools Officer informed the Committee that Maggie Moriarty, is an English teacher at Lowell High School, and is enrolled in a doctoral program at UMass Lowell’s Leadership in Education. A requirement of the program is to complete a dissertation-in-practice research study. Ms. Moriarty’s objective of her research is to explore what teachers discuss during PLC meeting time and why. Additionally, this study hopes to identify teacher conversations that inhibit or support changes to instructional practice. This study will draw on data from PLC meeting observations, teacher interviews, and collected document analysis. Mr. Lay made a motion to approve the doctoral research proposal of Maggie Moriarty; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to suspend the rules to add an additional conference request; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED 10. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 10.1. Out of Country and Overnight Travel Request: Permission for Suzanne Riley to travel with twenty- four [24] LHS students and four chaperones to France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria during the April school vacation 2023. The cost to the school department will be a substitute coverage for half school day. Students will miss half day from school depending on flight times. The total cost of the trip will be incurred by each student traveling. 10.2. Lowell High School Wrestling team member Gustavo Ventura, under the supervision of Coach George Bossi, to travel to an out of state athletic event, including an overnight stay. The Wrestling team is requesting permission to attend the MIAA New England Championship Friday March 4, 2022 and Saturday March 5, 2022. This athlete qualified at the state level to compete. The competition is being held at the Providence Career and Technical Academy 41 Fricker Street Providence, RI. The cost of the trip will include the following previously budgeted cost: Hilton Hotel, 21 Atwells Ave Providence, RI (overnight accommodations): $314.14, Meals: $200, Entry Fee: $20.00 - Total Cost: $534.14. All costs will be paid through the Lowell High School Athletic account; this money is previously budgeted. Coach Bossi and Coach Logan will provide travel with written parental permission and will supervise the trip. Ms. Thompson made a motion to approve both conference requests together; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 7 yeas APPROVED 11. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 11.1. LSAA-Donated Sick Days Katie McGann - Bartlett School Social Worker Mr. Descoteaux 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 7 of 7) 11.2. The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell Hereby Donate Thirty-Three [33] Sick Leave Days to Patricia Williams, Lowell High School Teacher. Mr. Descoteaux made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 12. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Delrossi made a motion to adjourn at 7:53 p.m.; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 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