School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: May 4, 2023 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 an 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 submitted before 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:35 p.m., members present were, namely: Ms. Martin, Ms. Thompson, Ms. Chhoun, and Ms. Doherty. Mr. Lay arrived at 6:41 p.m. Mayor Chau and Ms. Delrossi were absent. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Public Budget Hearing No one spoke in favor or in opposition during the public hearing. Ms. Turner, Chief Financial Officer provided an overview of the operating budget for FY24 to the Committee. The annual budget is the district’s one-year financial plan for operationalizing the next phase of the district’s multi-year strategic plan. The budget has been built over the course of five (5) months with direct input from internal and external stakeholders, leveraging the combined benefits of the Student Opportunity Act and the Federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund. The FY24 budget has been prioritized to achieve four districtwide, strategic goals:  Improving academics and student achievement at all school sites,  Improving operational efficiency across the system,  Ensuring that all schools are safe and welcoming for all students and families, and  Increasing the level of family and community engagement across the district. Ms. Turner stated that within these goal areas, significant funding has been allocated to important initiatives to meet the needs of students in the classroom, including extended learning time at all schools, school-based interventions that are tailored to the needs of individual students, increases in professional learning for all teachers and instructional support staff across the district, and support to Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 2) further bolster the home-school partnership as well as non-instructional resources that will ensure that the environment in every school. The budget document provides an itemized breakdown of every investment related to these goals and initiatives, including both personnel and non-personnel related costs. She stated that these investments are all being made through additional revenue with an eye on maintaining stability across the system. Ms. Martin made a motion to vote for the Action of Necessity, because the School Committee will be voting for their own-bottom line figure; seconded Ms. Thompson. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Mayor Chau and Ms. Delrossi) APPROVED Page 1 1110: School Committee Total amount for approval $877,000 Discussion ensued around field trips and it was requested that field trips be moved to another page ($435,000) and to ask schools what their plan is for that money and to find out the cost per student for field trips. (The new bottom line figure to be voted on will be $442.000). Page 3 1400: Finance and Administrative Services $3,842,611 Ms. Martin made a motion to move $100,000 from Human Resources: Recruitment & Onboarding to the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Mayor Chau and Ms. Delrossi) APPROVED (The new bottom line figure to be voted on will be $3,742.611). The Committee also asked for a budget to be incorporated for the TV studio into this budget as well as money the HR Audit. They also asked for a line be included for the Superintendent Search. Ms. Thompson asked about LatinX and the Resource Center and stated that the district needs a plan. around the amount of money proposed. 4. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Thompson made a motion to recess at 8:05 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Lay. 5 yeas, 2 absent (Mayor Chau and Ms. Delrossi) 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