School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: August 21, 2024 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 lbedoya@lowell.k12.ma.us. If you have 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 6:36 p.m., all members present were, namely: Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Mayor Rourke and Mr. Bahou. Ms. Doherty was absent. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Spotlight on Excellence - United Conference Ms. Clements, Bailey Principal and Mr. McLean, Bartlett Principal addressed the Committee and gave a brief overview of the conference and thanked the Committee for approving this trip which they found to be very informative and helpful. 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of July 25, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special School Committee meetings held on July 25, 2024, July 31, 2024, and August 12, 2024; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of July 25, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special School Committee meetings held on July 25, 2024, July 31, 2024, and August 12, 2024; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty) APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 10) 4.3. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of July 31, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special School Committee meetings held on July 25, 2024, July 31, 2024, and August 12, 2024; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 4.4. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of July 31, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special School Committee meetings held on July 25, 2024, July 31, 2024, and August 12, 2024; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 4.5. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of August 12, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special School Committee meetings held on July 25, 2024, July 31, 2024, and August 12, 2024; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 4.6. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of August 12, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special School Committee meetings held on July 25, 2024, July 31, 2024, and August 12, 2024; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter: August 21, 2024 Ms. Delrossi moved to approve the Permission to Enter; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 5 yeas, 2 absent (Ms. Doherty, Ms. Martin) APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. Kevin E. Harris - Previous Custodian at LHS and US Army Vietnam Veteran 7. MOTIONS 7.1. [By David Conway]: Request the superintendent to present a report on the readiness of the start to the school year 2024-25, at Lowell High School. Mr. Conway moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 7.2. [By David Conway]: Request from the superintendent, a spotlight on excellence to highlight the various initiatives across the system that are in place to address bullying, harassment, and violence. As well, please contact the district attorney Marion Ryan's office and invite them to present an informational session on this matter for our middle school students. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 10) Mr. Conway moved to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 7.3. [By Fred Bahou]: Setup a joint subcommittee budget subcommittee with the Lowell CC to discuss the financial audit of the business office as well as considerations of combining some departments. Mr. Bahou moved to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 7.4. [By Fred Bahou]: Have the superintendent submit a report to the School Committee on the work that has been completed and what the ongoing remediation process is at the Pawtucketville Memorial Elementary School. Mr. Georges, UTL President registered and spoke on this agenda item. Mr. Georges stated that he believes the City is responsible for our school buildings and that the school department should not be spending any of its funds on the buildings. Mr. Bahou moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 7.5. [By Mayor Daniel Rourke]: Request Superintendent present the School Committee with options and possible cost savings to bring school transportation in house. Mayor Rourke moved to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 7.6. [By Eileen DelRossi]: Request the superintendent to report on the status of the hiring of tutors for the 24/25 school year. Ms. Delrossi moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 7.7. [By Eileen DelRossi]: Request the superintendent to report on summer school improvements in regard to the buildings and what if any ongoing construction could impact students, staff, and parents this coming 24/25 school year. Ms. Delrossi moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 7.8. [By Eileen DelRossi]: Request the superintendent to collaborate with the proper departments to extract proper reading and math student performance levels in order to begin to implement a stronger cohesive reading and math curriculum most practical to our student population. Ms. Delrossi moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 10) 7.9. [By Dominik Lay]: Request the approval of the committee to call for a School Improvement & Performance Management sub-committee meeting and invite Aramark food services director to the meeting and discuss food services in schools. Mr. Lay moved to approve; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. Facilities Update Mr. Underwood, Facilities Director, and Mr. St. Cyr, DPW Director, addressed the Committee and provided a facilities update. Mr. Underwood reported that while mold levels at Pawtucketville Memorial School have decreased, he believes they are still not at acceptable levels. He emphasized that both the schools and the city are taking the issue seriously. Mill City Environmental has been working on the school's mitigation efforts, and further testing is scheduled for Friday, August 23, 2024, with results expected later that same day. Mr. St. Cyr noted that he has been monitoring Pawtucketville Memorial throughout the summer and that mold reappeared just last week. Mr. Underwood also mentioned that it has been an exceptionally busy summer for the schools, with some teachers still unable to access their classrooms. He stated that the St. Jeanne D’Arc/Adie Annex is ready to go and he is hoping to get the permit tomorrow. Mr. Bahou requested that the results from Friday’s testing, as well as future test results, be shared with the Committee on a regular basis. Mayor Rourke asked if the high school and Pawtucketville Memorial are expected to open on time. Mr. St. Cyr responded yes. Superintendent Skinner stated that he has been consulting with the Health Department about the safety of Pawtucketville Memorial School. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.2. Superintendent Goals Report Superintendent Skinner provided a report to the Committee stating that he takes responsibility for district goals and expects to be held accountable for achieving them. Part I of the report provides his assessment of progress on five (5) individual Superintendent goals, while Part II assesses progress on district strategic goals. Each assessment includes a rating—Achieved, Substantial Progress, Limited Progress, or No Progress—accompanied by a supporting narrative and relevant data. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 10) 8.3. Response to Motion (By Eileen DelRossi, 10/18/23) Regarding Handicap Parking at McAuliffe School Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer, provided a report to the Committee informing them that the Safety Coordinator has contacted the Department of Public Works and the Director of Facilities regarding this request. The original request to make changes to the right-hand side of the handicap parking was completed. The left-hand side is scheduled to be completed as requested by the start of the school year. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.4. Response to Motion (By Dominik Lay, 11/15/23) Regarding Transportation Ms. Sharry, Transportation Director, provided a report to the Committee stating that a motion requested information on how many students live 1, 1.5, and 2 miles from their home address to their respective school. With the district’s current programs, the transportation department cannot provide that exact level of detail within those specific radii. However, below is similar information based on our address database: ➢ 1,441 elementary school students live within 0.75 miles of their school (not eligible for transportation). ➢ 1,846 middle school students live within 1.49 miles of their school (not eligible for transportation). Additionally, the total number of students eligible for school bus transportation does not necessarily mean that all students use the bus. In many cases, students are driven to school by family or friends. The report also included a chart that shows the number of students transported daily on regular education school buses. These numbers include both charter and parochial schools. Essentially 45% of Lowell students are transported at least one (1) way each day. The numbers provided in the chart do not reflect special education bus services. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.5. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 03/06/24) Regarding Safety Task Force Dr. Hall, the Chief Operating Officer, provided a report to the Committee stating that the Safety Coordinator has had several meetings with the Lowell Police Department and administrative members of Lowell High School. Given the current climate and ongoing concerns about school safety, it is more important than ever to have a robust and collaborative approach to maintaining security within our educational institution. A Safety Committee meeting structure is already in place. This is a monthly forum involving LHS staff, Safety Coordinator, Lowell Police Department, Lowell Fire Department, and the Health Department. This forum has been extremely valuable in enhancing the safety of the school district's students and staff. Many accomplishments include the creation of emergency operation “flip charts,” go bags for each K-8 school, and numbering for all schools according to fire and police Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 10) regulations, to name a few. Furthermore, Captain Penrose is stationed at the high school and consistently communicates with administrators after every security concern or event and meets regularly with them to maintain a safe environment for students and staff. This approach has been deemed effective by the Lowell Police Department and members of Lowell High School. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.6. Follow-Up Response to Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 04/03/24) Regarding LHS Security Dr. Hall, the Chief Operating Officer, provided a report to the Committee stating that the Superintendent’s staff has begun coordinating with various departments to address this motion. The Safety Coordinator has coordinated with and solicited ideas from the LHS Head of Security, Head of School, and Lowell Police Department (LPD) regarding enhanced security at the entrances, as indicated in the RTM presented on April 3, 2024. There are security cameras in every school. Our work in response to this motion has allowed us to identify where additional security cameras are warranted or where other improvements are required. Contracts have been established with Valley Communications for the installation of additional security cameras and door access readers at eleven (11) schools. The Butler School security cameras are currently being installed. Additional repairs and installations are scheduled to be completed by late fall by Valley Communications. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.7. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 04/03/24) Regarding Safety & Security Dr. Hall, the Chief Operating Officer, provided a report to the Committee informing them that a formal letter requesting a partnership with the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) was delivered on April 4, 2024. As of now, a positive response has not been received. In 2016, Lowell Public Schools completed a district-wide Safety Assessment, conducted by Safe Havens International (SHI). The assessment included a combination of comprehensive on-site evaluations of the thirty-one (31) school sites operated by the district and an off-site review of the district’s emergency management plans, as well as available information on safety and security policies and student disciplinary data. These assessments focused on identifying opportunities to improve safety, security, climate, culture, and emergency preparedness at each assessed school and throughout the district. The findings from these assessments were incorporated into a detailed, strategic-level written report. The strategic report was supplemented with individual site assessment reports for each of the assessed schools. The site reports provide specific opportunities for improvement in each school and identify trends in school safety, security, and emergency management throughout the district. The strategic report has helped the district effectively identify and address concerns through district-level, rather than site-specific, approaches. Superintendent Skinner believes that the school district doesn’t need a safety audit at this time. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 7 of 10) Mr. Conway moved to approve moving forward with an RFP for a safety audit; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion failed with 3 yeas, 3 nays (Ms. Martin, Mayor Rourke, Mr. Bahou), 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). FAILED Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.8. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 04/17/24) Regarding Park Ave East Dr. Hall, the Chief Operating Officer, provided a report to the Committee, informing them that following discussions with Mayor Rourke, and City of Lowell Transportation Engineer, Elizabeth Oltman, a twenty- five (25) mph speed limit sign for Park Ave. East has been ordered from the LPD sign shop. It has also been determined that the road would be eligible for further, more effective speed reduction methods that will be available in the future. Additionally, the crosswalk sign was replaced at Andover Street and Douglas Road Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.9. Response to Motion (By Dominik Lay, 05/01/24) Regarding School Lunch Lowell Public Schools Student Nutrition menus feature flavor forward entrées with at least four (4) options available daily including a main entrée, a grill item, a cold entrée, and a sandwich of the day. Every day they also feature a hot and cold vegetarian item for students. They also have integrated culturally diverse menu options based on student feedback and collaboration with the Tasting History Cookbook. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.10. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 06/12/24) Regarding Student Incident Dr. Hall, the Chief Operating Officer, provided a report to the Committee, informing them that the safety and well-being of our students is our utmost priority, and we take any report of violence very seriously. Upon learning about the assault, the school administration took immediate action to ensure the safety of the affected student. A debriefing of the situation occurred with the school administration, Lowell Police Department (LPD), and Lowell High School (LHS) Security. In collaboration with LPD increased police presence during dismissal times at LHS and in downtown areas was implemented. LPS security also increased its visibility during lunchtime and a safety plan was implemented. As with any assault or safety concerns with students or staff, collaboration and plans are set in place to ensure a healthy and safe educational environment. We continue to engage with community partners and families in safety initiatives and have regular meetings with officers of the LPD. We also appreciate all the support the police department has provided in planning for the start of school. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 8 of 10) Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.11. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 07/25/24) Regarding Cell Phone Policy Update Mr. Fiato, Head of School, provided an update to the Committee about the cell phone policy. The current cell phone policy, implemented on January 29, 2024, aims to optimize instructional time by minimizing cell phone distractions. Its purpose is to enhance student engagement with curriculum and peers, while mitigating the negative impacts of excessive screen time. The current cell phone policy prohibits phone use during class time while permitting access between classes, advisory, and lunch. This approach seeks a balance between student needs and the preservation of a focused learning environment. Secure lock boxes have been provided for students to store their phones during class periods. To minimize liability, teachers are not responsible for handling these devices. Since the policy’s implementation, there have been no reported instances of phone damage or loss. Unlike last year’s mid-year implementation, the policy will be fully enforced from the first day of school this year. This approach provides a clean slate for both staff and students to begin the academic year. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.12. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 07/25/24) Regarding MCC/UML Partnerships The Early College Lowell Program has continued to expand its enrollment and course offerings to allow students who are focused on obtaining college credits while at Lowell High School (LHS) the opportunity to earn a full associate’s degree during their four (4) years at LHS. Also, LHS students for the first time will be traveling to the MCC campus to take their Early College classes on site, giving them an authentic student experience in college. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 8.13. Response to Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 07/25/24) Regarding Assistant Principal Hiring Practices Ms. Crocker-Roberge, Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership, provided a report to the Committee that informed them that since FY 23, the Lowell Public Schools have filled thirteen (13) vacant Assistant Principal positions. Three (3) of the vacant positions were first filled via internal transfers, directed by the Superintendent of Schools, with those positions backfilled using the standard hiring procedure. All candidates were screened by an Assistant Principal screening committee. Candidates who applied for multiple Assistant Principal positions and who were selected for a screening interview were screened by at least one (1) Assistant Principal screening committee. Those deemed a finalist for one (1) position were also advanced as a finalist in subsequent applications to ensure that the strongest candidates remained active in the process. When an error in one (1) procedure was identified, corrective measures were taken that included re-screenings and training for hiring managers. Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 9 of 10) Continued monitoring of administrator hiring practices is ongoing via the Human Resources Office and the Assistant Superintendent of School Leadership Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.13 as reports of progress; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Request Approval and Permission to Post PoG Stipend Positions This summer, Lowell High School received exciting news that the Barr Foundation’s leadership team approved a 36-month, $500,000 grant to Lowell Public Schools to support transformation in learning and teaching to advance our Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) initiative. This money will be distributed somewhat evenly over the next three (3) years, and we are eager for the work it will support. As part of the next grant cycle, we are writing to request permission from the Committee to post a Grant Manager Lead position, Advisory Lead positions, and PoG Instructional Focus Lead positions centered on supporting instructional change. While in the past, we had a full-time grants manager, the new funding for this cycle of the grant did not continue use of this model. As a result, we have created the PoG Grants Manager stipend. To ensure that the instructional work is co-led by teachers, we have created the additional stipends for PoG Instructional Focus Leads and Artifact/Advisory Leads. Ms. Martin moved to approve and post the PoG Stipend positions; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty) APPROVED 9.2. Request Approval of Doctoral Research Proposal Dr. Elizabeth Bettini, the Primary Investigator at Boston University, along with Dr. Jennifer Dolloff and Paula Peters, is conducting a study on the Lowell Adjustment Programs to tackle issues encountered by paraeducators, teachers, and leaders. This research builds on the work previously initiated by Dr. Frank Vicente. In the 2022-23 school year, they identified that paraeducators lacked time and support for professional learning. To address this, they created five online learning modules, each under one (1) hour long, designed for paraeducators to complete during their first week in Lowell Public Schools. Mr. Lay moved to approve the doctoral research proposal; seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 9.3. Approval to Accept and Expend Allocated FY25 Awards These Grant funds have been secured by the Lowell Public Schools through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Early Education and Care, Barr Foundation, and the Brookline Center. Ms. Martin moved to approve, accept and expend the allocated FY25 awards; seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 10 of 10) 9.4. Approval to Accept and Expend Grant from the Cummings Foundation Cummings Foundation wishes to award seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00) to support the Department of Mental Health/SEL and Behavior at the Lowell Public School. Mr. Bahou moved to approve, accept and expend the grant from the Cummings Foundation; seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 9.5. Approval to Accept Donation from Dick's Sporting Goods Dick's Sporting Goods pending acceptance by the Lowell School Committee, wishes to donate one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) to support the Bartlett Community Partnership School's Student Activities Fund. Mr. Lay moved to accept the donation from Dick’s Sporting Goods; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 9.6. Home Education Superintendent Skinner recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Miriam Lebron Peter Sem Carolina Cruz Melita Matzko Mohammed Pikita Mr. Conway moved to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). APPROVED 10. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Conway moved to adjourn at 8:01 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Doherty). 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