School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: October 04, 2023 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 6:35 p.m., members present were, namely: Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Ms. Thompson, Mayor Chau and Ms. Chhoun. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Spotlight On Excellence – Morey School, DESE School of Recognition Ms. McLaughlin, Morey School Principal spoke to the Committee about her school being recognized by the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education as a “School of Recognition” based on their 2023 accountability results. She thanked her staff, students and families and shared quotes from the staff and students who wrote about their experience as members of the Morey School community. Committee members congratulated and thanked her and the staff, student and families. 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special/Executive Session Meeting of September 20, 2023 Ms. Martin made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meetings that were held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of September 20, 2023 Ms. Martin made a motion to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and Regularly Scheduled School Committee Meetings that were held on Wednesday, September 20, 2023; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 7) 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: October 04, 2023 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the Permission to Enter; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 6. MOTIONS 6.1. [By Mayor Sokhary Chau]: Request interim superintendent to remove field trip funds from the suspense account and report on their distribution to schools. Report to include the amount of field trip funds provided to each school as well as an account of how the amounts were calculated. Interim Superintendent Skinner stated that $435,000 was approved in the budget for field trips which amounts to $30.00 per student. He stated that he will provide a report with all costs, etc. Mayor Chau made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.2. [By Mayor Sokhary Chau]: Request the interim superintendent report on the quality and quantity of lunch offerings for students. Information on how student satisfaction with lunches is monitored should be included, as well as information on how different tastes, such preferences for ethnic foods, are accommodated. Mayor Chau made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.3. [By Eileen Delrossi]: Request the superintendent to give school committee a plan of action for communication in regards to having meetings scheduling auxiliary meetings such as executive session, emergency meetings. Will we be polled? Ms. Delrossi made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.4. [By Eileen Delrossi]: Request the superintendent supply an email or text message in regards to incidents that happen throughout the week at schools. Ms. Delrossi made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Chhoun. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.5. [By Eileen DelRossi]: Request the superintendent to continuously update the community as to the state of transportation in the district, so that no family/student is left without a bus and assure there is a plan in regards to substitute transportation. Ms. Delrossi made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 7) 6.6. [By Stacey Thompson]: Motion to receive definitive information regarding the status of the hiring process at the high school, specifically to address student inability to use/access bathrooms on each floor. Ms. Thompson made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED 6.7. [By Eileen DelRossi & Stacey Thompson]: Motion to have presentation by the district/school’s mental health department to share ways/processes for students to access appointments and supports. Collaborate with each building website, to provide information to students and families, in an effort to dispel stigma surrounding areas of and spectrum within mental health, while ensuring access to services. Ms. Delrossi made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Lay made a motion to suspend the rules to talk about the After Dark Program at Lowell High School; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Lay made a motion to ask the Superintendent for a report on the After Dark Program presently and in the future; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 7. SUBCOMMITTEES 7.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Policy & Governance Subcommittee Meeting of September 18, 2023 Ms. Doherty, Chairperson of the Policy & Governance Subcommittee addressed the Committee and stated that there is proposed change to the high school’s graduation requirements. The changes being brought forward is proposing striking the four-year and 20-credit requirements from the Lowell High School graduation policy. She stated doing this will improve equity in graduation opportunities for students facing barriers to finish their full senior year. She stated that students are currently allowed to appeal for a waiver of the four-year, twenty-credit requirement, but “must submit a letter of appeal, with the recommendation of their Assistant Principal, to the Head of School for final approval.” Ms. Doherty made a motion to have the first reading of the revised Graduation Requirements Policy be presented at the next School Committee meeting; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED She then spoke about a proposed change in the current cell phone procedures in the handbook which hopes to increase student engagement and reduce distractions. She stated that the goal is to create a distraction-free learning environment and to ensure that every student has the opportunity to focus on their studies without any interruptions from their phones. She stated the high school hopes that by providing a designated location for phones during class, students will feel less pressure to constantly check their devices and will be able to fully engage in classroom activities. Mr. Lay made a motion to suspend the rules allow Mr. Comeau, LHS Teacher to address the Committee regarding this matter; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 7) Ms. Thompson asked Dr. Hall if there are any union implications by making the change. Dr. Hall stated that he doesn’t want to discuss this in an open forum. Ms. Doherty made a motion to update the language in the Lowell High School handbook regarding cell phones in class and to receive a report on the results of the change at the end of the school year; seconded by Mr. Lay. 5 yeas, 2 present (Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Thompson) APPROVED Ms. Doherty 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. Strategic Goals Interim Superintendent Skinner presented the Lowell Public Schools Strategic Goals 2023-2024 to the Committee. He stated that the goals provided are a draft summary that have been developed collaboratively with the members of the Interim Superintendent’s cabinet. He stated that they are designed with measurable actions intended to advance the district’s progress toward meeting the targets of the 2020 – 2025 Strategic Plan by focusing efforts on four (4) key objectives:  Improve academics and student achievement at every school site.  Improve operational efficiency across the system.  Ensure that every school is safe and welcoming to every student and every family.  Increase community engagement and empower families as partners in the educational process. Ms. Martin stated that the goals need to be measurable and looking at these she doesn’t see a lot of concrete measures. She stated that there are no numbers and she would like to see one numeric goal in each goal. Ms. Doherty stated that she agrees with Ms. Martin and that they need to be measured. Ms. Thompson made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.7 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.2. MCAS and Accountability Report Ms. Doherty made a motion to refer the MCAS and Accountability Report to a Curriculum & Instruction Subcommittee for further discussion; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Thompson made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.7 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 7) 8.3. ESSER Spending Update Mr. Lay made a motion to refer the ESSER Spending Update to a Finance Subcommittee for further discussion; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Thompson made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.7 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.4. Report on Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 05/17/23) Regarding Animal Cruelty Ms. Desmond, Chief Academic Officer provided a report that stated that the district has purchased over $6,500 worth of titles on the topic of animal cruelty prevention. The district’s collection now has many informational titles that cover how to care for many different animals from the typical house pets, such as dogs and cats, to more exotic animals such as alpacas, turtles and pythons. There are also functional stories with pets as the main subject as well as non-fiction stories. Ms. Thompson made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.7 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.5. Response to Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 08/16/23) Regarding TV Studio Programming at LHS Ms. Desmond, Chief Academic Officer provided a report that stated that through strategic staffing changes and a comprehensive redesign of course offerings, the high school has successfully enhanced and expanded the television and digital media program at Lowell High School over the last five (5) years. The report stated that currently, the program has flourished with a diverse range of courses taught by two (2) highly skilled teachers and are supported by their digital media producer. The report also stated that a new course “Introduction of Digital Media” will help lay a solid foundation for students to acquire the crucial skills and knowledge necessary for their success in advanced courses such as television, film, and dual enrollment MCC courses. Ms. Thompson made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.7 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.6. Response to Motion (By Eileen DelRossi, 09/06/23) Regarding Incoming Immigrants Ms. Crocker-Roberge, Interim Chief Schools Officer provided a report that the Lowell Public Schools is committed to welcoming and assisting newcomers with a variety of supports and services, directly through our own staff as well as in collaboration with a number of local partner agencies. The report stated that the Inn & Conference Center (ICC) is located in Zone 2 and students will be assigned to schools in Zone 2 or those listed as citywide schools according to available space. The Open Architects Data Dashboard system has a new Enrollment Monitoring dashboard that will be used to equitably place students according to space and other programmatic needs. The report stated that transportation will Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 7) also be a consideration for school assignments as there are already numerous challenges with the number of available buses. The report stated that with the proximity of the ICC just a short walking distance to the Family Resource Center (FRC), we will register families onsite at FRC and guidance and coordination for families from the ICC to FRC will be provided. This will allow families to learn where FRC is located, along with the Transportation and Special Education Departments. The report stated that initial language screening will be done on the fifth floor at 155 Merrimack Street, so incoming students will be tested there as part of the registration process. The report stated that also guiding families to the FRC, we will be able to provide for some clothing needs through access to Catie’s Closet, which is located in the basement of 155 Merrimack Street. Ms. Thompson made a motion to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.7 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 8.7. Personnel Report The Personnel Report was tabled and more information was asked for on the temporary licenses. 8.8. Home Education Interim Superintendent Skinner recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Lisa Veiga Ms. Thompson made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Budget Transfer Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the budget transfer of $54,823; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 7 yeas APPROVED 10. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 10.1. Overnight Request: Lowell High School Outdoor Adventures Club Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the Convention/Conference request; seconded by Ms. Chhoun. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 7 of 7) 11. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 11.1. The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell Hereby Donate Thirty [30] Sick Leave Days to Stephanie Ly, Murkland School Teacher. Mr. Lay made a motion to approve the Professional Personnel; seconded by Ms. Thompson. 7 yeas APPROVED 12. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Delrossi made a motion to adjourn at 8:23 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED Respectfully submitted, Liam Skinner, Interim Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee LS/mes Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us