School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: May 4, 2024 Time: 10:00 AM 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 lbedoya@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 10:03 a.m., all members present were, namely: Mr. Bahou, Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay and Mayor Rourke. Ms. Martin arrived at 10:05 a.m. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Public Budget Hearing 3.1. Public Hearing FY 2023 Budget Ms. Keefe registered and spoke regarding her concerns about the budget. Ms. Doherty made a motion to vote for the Action of Necessity, because the School Committee will be voting for their own-bottom line figure; seconded Mr. Bahou. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty made a motion to have Superintendent Skinner provide an overview of the budget; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty spoke about her concerns around how many teachers, tutors and paraprofessionals were being laid off. She also spoke about the SLP’s caseloads and if we can hire additional help using some of the circuit breaker money. She asked for a report around the SLP issue. Superintendent Skinner stated that the SLP issue is a concern and will be addressed. Mr. Lay stated that he agreed with Ms. Doherty. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 6) Mr. Bahou asked if the number of caseloads per SLP can be included in the report. He stated that he would like to see the five (5) vacant positions hired and possible additional SLP’s to help with the caseload. Ms. Doherty made a motion to receive a report on the SLP issue and to include SLP caseloads in the report; second by Mr. Bahou. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 1 1110: School Committee Total amount for approval $122,000 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $122,000; seconded by Mr. Conway. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 2 1200: Superintendent $1,437,831 Ms. Doherty made a motion to send six (6) Assistant Superintendent positions to the Suspense Account while the Committee waits for more information around the reorganization; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $349,500; seconded by Mr. Bahou. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 3 1400: Finance and Administrative Services $3,724,960 Ms. Doherty asked about the removal of the recruiting line. Superintendent Skinner stated that he is hiring an HR Director who will be doing the recruiting. He said he also removed the Assistant HR position from the budget. Ms. Martin stated that she is concerned about the Webmaster position and the Data Analyst positions being cut and asked what role the data analyst plays. Superintendent Skinner stated that he believes that the district webmaster can be managed with the position being eliminated. He stated that the data analyst position is around restructuring. Ms. Martin made a motion to put the District Webmaster position in the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke) APPROVED Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $3,724,960; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6) Page 4 1410: Finance & Operations $5,545,060 Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $5,545,060; seconded by Mr. Bahou. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke) APPROVED Page 5 2110: Instructional Leadership $3,320,510 Ms. Doherty asked for the context of why the district is eliminating two (2) District Support Specialists, but adding an Academic Chair at LHS. Superintendent Skinner stated that they actually reduced the positions that were added last year by one (1) position. Ms. Delrossi made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $3,320,510; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 6 2200: Principals/School Leadership $10,842,966 Mr. Bahou made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $10,842,966; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 4 yeas, 3 nays (Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Mr. Lay) APPROVED Page 7 2305: Personnel Classroom Teachers $114,125,108 Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $114,125,108; seconded by Mr. Bahou. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 8 2305: Medical/Therapeutic Services $35,068,010 Ms. Martin made a motion to move $1 million dollars from the Summer School line to the Suspense Account for one (1) week to see if there is ESSER money that can fund Summer School; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure; seconded by Mr. Lay. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 6) Page 9 2352: Coaching Curriculum Support $3,465,759 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $3,465,759; seconded by Ms. Martin. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi) APPROVED Page 10 2410: Non-Personnel Textbooks $5,729,983 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $5,729,983; seconded by Mr. Lay. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi) APPROVED Page 11 2710: Guidance Counselors $11,677.160 Mr. Lay made a motion to move the Social Worker positon from the FRC to the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure; seconded by Mr. Bahou. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to recess at 12:00 p.m.; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED On a roll call at 12:46 a.m., all members present were, namely: Mr. Bahou, Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin and Mayor Rourke. Page 12 3100: Attendance and Parent Liaison Services $4,727,945 Mr. Conway made a motion to move the Community Schools Coordinators into the Suspense Account and for the administration to provide an active response for what can be salvaged; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke) APPROVED Mr. Conway made a motion for the administration to look for grant opportunities to fund the Attendance program; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Ms. Martin made a motion to move $230,000 from Contracted Services to the Suspense Account; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPRPVED Ms. Delrossi made a motion to move the District Support Specialist to the Suspense Account; seconded by Mr. Conway. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Mayor Rourke) APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 6) Mr. Bahou made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $4,160,919.50; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 13 3300: Transportation $14,464,095 Ms. Martin made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $14,464,095; seconded by Ms. Doherty. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 14 Food Service $0 This was just informational. Page 15 3500: Athletics & Student Activities $2,450,299 Mr. Bahou made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $2,450,299; seconded by Mr. Conway. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 16 4000: Custodial & Security Services $8,458,724 Mr. Lay made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $8,458,724; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 17 5100/5200: Employee Benefits & Retirements $25,974,028 Mr. Bahou made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $25,974,028; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 6 yeas, 1 abstain (Mr. Conway) APPROVED Page 17 5350: Rental of Buildings $865,197 Ms. Delrossi made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $865,197; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) Page 18 7000: Capital Outlay $500,000 Mr. Conway made a motion to move $200,000 to the Suspense Account; seconded by Mr. Bahou. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Bahou made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $300,000; seconded by Mr. Conway. 7 yeas APPROVED Page 19 9000: Out of District Budget $8,422,742 Ms. Doherty made a motion to approve the bottom-line figure of $8,422,742; seconded by Ms. Martin. 7 yeas APPROVED Mr. Conway made a motion to recess at 1:54 p.m. and to have the administration provide the total in the Suspense Account and the FY25 Budget number; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 7 yeas APPROVED 4. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Conway made a motion to recess at 1:54 p.m.; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. 7 yeas APPROVED Respectfully submitted, Liam Skinner, 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