School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: September 18, 2024 Time: 6:30PM Location: City Council Chamber, 375 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor, Lowell, MA 01852 Members of the public can view the meeting via LTC. Those wishing to speak about a specific agenda item must register in advance by emailing the Superintendent. Please include the agenda item, as well as your phone number and email address so we can provide a Zoom link for access. The email address is lbedoya@lowell.k12.ma.us. If you do not have access to email, you may contact us at 978-674-4324. All requests must be submitted by 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. 1. SALUTE TO FLAG 2. ROLL CALL On a roll call at 6:32 p.m., all members present were, namely: Mr. Bahou, Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin and Mayor Rourke. Mr. Conway was absent. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Spotlight On Excellence - United Conference Mr. Anderson, Principal of McAuliffe School, addressed the Committee and provided a brief overview of the conference. He expressed his gratitude for the Committee's approval of the trip, noting that it was a valuable opportunity for both the participants and Lowell Public Schools. Mr. Bahou moved to suspend the rules to take item # 9.1. Vote to Accept and Expend Renew America's Schools Prize and Grant out of order; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of September 4, 2024 Ms. Martin moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and the Regularly Scheduled School Committee meetings held on September 4, 2024; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 155 Merrimack http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 8) 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of September 4, 2024 Ms. Martin moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and the Regularly Scheduled School Committee meetings held on September 4, 2024; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter Ms. Martin moved to approve the Permission to Enter; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 5.2. Ratification of Collective Bargaining Agreement with Building Services SY 24 25 Ms. Doherty stated that she is not supporting these contracts because she does not believe it constitutes a genuine negotiation and feels that the district did not receive any concessions. However, she emphasized her belief that all employees work hard. Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the Collective Bargaining Agreements with Building Services, Cafeteria, Paraprofessionals and Teachers; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Doherty) 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 5.3. Ratification of Collective Bargaining Agreement with Cafeteria SY 24 to 25 Ms. Doherty stated that she is not supporting these contracts because she does not believe it constitutes a genuine negotiation and feels that the district did not receive any concessions. However, she emphasized her belief that all employees work hard. Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the Collective Bargaining Agreements with Building Services, Cafeteria, Paraprofessionals and Teachers; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Doherty) 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 5.4. Ratification of Collective Bargaining Agreement with Paraprofessionals SY 24 25 Ms. Doherty stated that she is not supporting these contracts because she does not believe it constitutes a genuine negotiation and feels that the district did not receive any concessions. However, she emphasized her belief that all employees work hard. Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the Collective Bargaining Agreements with Building Services, Cafeteria, Paraprofessionals and Teachers; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Doherty) 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 8) 5.5. Ratification of Collective Bargaining Agreement with Teachers SY 24 25 Ms. Doherty stated that she is not supporting these contracts because she does not believe it constitutes a genuine negotiation and feels that the district did not receive any concessions. However, she emphasized her belief that all employees work hard. Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the Collective Bargaining Agreements with Building Services, Cafeteria, Paraprofessionals and Teachers; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 5 yeas, 1 nay (Ms. Doherty) 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. James Borst - Retired Lowell High School US History Teacher for over 39 Years. 7. MOTIONS 7.1. [By David Conway]: Request the Superintendent reach out to the appropriate organizations and unions to invite the LHS retirees to an open house of the new and renovated LHS facility. Motion is deferred to the October 2, 2024 School Committee meeting. 7.2. [By Eileen DelRossi]: Request the superintendent to work with traffic engineers in order to develop a better plan for the Greenhalge teacher parking, parent drop off/pick up, and the interferences on Victor Street. Ms. McNamara registered and spoke on this agenda item. Ms. McNamara shared her concerns about the traffic on this street during drop off and pick up and the possible safety hazards. Ms. Delrossi moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 7.3. [By Fred Bahou]: A motion to have the LPS district reimburse the school teachers of the Pawtucketville Memorial for purchases they made for rugs from mold issues resulting in their rugs being removed from their respective classrooms. Mr. Bahou moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 7.4. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with an Exit Interview Report that covers the time period since the last one was presented in the Fall of 2022. The updated report should include relevant data as to how many people left district employment, how many were invited to respond to exit interviews, how many actually responded, and of those who responded, what information was collected. Going forward, these reports should be provided quarterly along with the Personnel Reports as one measure to help gauge school climate. L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 8) Ms. Ronan registered and spoke on this agenda item. Ms. Ronan spoke about her issues with the HR department. Ms. Doherty moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 4 yeas, 2 nays (Mr. Lay, Mayor Rourke), 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 7.5. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with a report regarding district policy that all qualified Lowell candidates be interviewed for school jobs. The report should include how many qualified Lowell residents applied for school positions over the last 12 months, how many were interviewed, and how many were hired. Ms. Ronan registered and spoke on this agenda item. Ms. Ronan spoke about her issues with HR and applying for jobs as a Lowell resident and not getting an interview. Ms. Doherty moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion failed with 3 yeas, 3 nays (Mr. Bahou, Mr. Lay, Mayor Rourke), 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. Strategic Goals 2024 2025 Superintendent Skinner presented the district's Goals, Actions, and Deliverables for 2024 2025. The four goals, along with their supporting documentation, are as follows: ELA and Literacy Audit Improve Operational Efficiency Across the System Ensure that every School is Safe and Welcoming to Every Student and Every Family, Everyday Increase Community Engagement and Empower Families as Partners in the Educational Process Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 8.2. Response to Motion (By Eileen DelRossi, 03/06/24) Regarding Safety Awareness Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer, presented a report to the Committee outlining the current live work order system in collaboration with the city. Most repairs or fixes are carried out by the city according to a timeline they establish, but the system currently does not indicate expected completion dates for projects. Dr. Hall has requested the addition of a column to track project completion times. The report also included a list of all outstanding work orders in progress, organized by school, with a total of 828 work orders currently active. Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 8) 8.3. Response to Motion (By Fred Bahou, 03/20/24) Regarding Chromebook Care and Maintenance Plan Ms. Fox Roye, Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Instruction provided a maintenance plan to the Committee that stated that a district Chromebook Care and Maintenance Plan aims to ensure the effective and responsible use of Chromebooks provided by Lowell Public Schools. A document was included that outlines the essential guidelines and procedures for maintaining and managing their Chromebook. The plan includes detailed instructions on proper maintenance practices, repair protocols, and best practices for keeping your device in peak performance. The Chromebook Care and Maintenance Plan was drafted and reviewed by the Technology Department and Assistant Superintendents in the Office of Teaching and Learning. Mr. Bahou stated that he believes the report needs more substance. Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 8.4. Response to Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 04/17/24) Regarding Health Curriculum Ms. Fox Roye, Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Instruction provided a report that stated that during the 2023-2024 academic year, the district implemented a pilot program of the Michigan Model of Health across middle schools. The report included a summary of the model for grades 5 through 8. Ms. Doherty stated that she is disappointed by this. She asked why we chose an outdated curriculum. She stated that the district has now lost a year because of this. Ms. Fox Roye stated that Lowell High School is using Lighthouse which is an aligned curriculum. Ms. Doherty asked what the plan is moving forward. Ms. Fox Roye stated that it will be a combination of the new standards and the pilot. Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 8.5. Response to Motion (By Dominik Lay, 05/01/24) Regarding School Start Times Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer, presented a report to the Committee informing them that there is always an opportunity to change the school start/stop times, but there are many moving parts to analyze in coming to such a decision. The impact on families, students, and employees are always the most important factors. Transportation is also an area that may provide constraints, and which may limit options. Our capacity to service the students in our city hinges on our collaboration with our neighboring districts. The current allocation of resources is determined by our utilization of drivers in alignment with our current school times. Changing the times without collaboration may hinder our L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 8) ability to benefit from the assistance provided by our neighboring districts. Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 8.6. Response to Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 05/15/24) Regarding Water Filtration Mr. Underwood, Facilities Director, provided a report to the Committee that informed the Committee that he discussed the water filtration matter with the water department and was told that the City of Lowell has large carbon filters that are designed to eliminate PFAS contaminates from our drinking water. Additionally, every new water filling station recently installed has a separate internal replaceable filter. The City of Lowell has an online water quality report that states all contaminants are well below state and federal guidelines. Further information on this can be found at Massachusetts Department of Environmenta Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 8.7. Response to Motion (By Dominik Lay, 07/25/24) Regarding Lowell History Course Ms. Fox Roye, Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Instruction provided a report that informed the Committee that the curriculum being used is designed to span multiple grade levels, from historical evolution and its impact on broader American history. The curriculum emphasi transformation from a pivotal industrial hub to its present-day role as a diverse, culturally rich community. Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 8.8. Response to Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 07/25/24) Regarding Band/Color Guard Program Ms. Fox Roye, Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Instruction provided a report that informed the Committee that there are several concerns around the LHS band/color guard program that need thorough consideration. Ms. Fox Roye consulted with the LHS Associate Head of School and the Chair of Fine Arts. The feedback they provided emphasized several concerns that included: budgetary concerns, program distinctions, student and family choice, and equity and precedent. The report states that given these factors, it is currently not feasible to allow non-LPS students to part and color guard programs, or any other extracurricular activities, due to the associated financial and logistical concerns. However, in the spirit of collaboration, we are open to initiating a dialogue with the administration at GLTHS. This discussion could explore ways to support GLTHS in developing its extracurricular programs that provide access to fine arts opportunities similar to marching band and L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 7 of 8) color guard. Such collaboration would aim to enhance the extracurricular experiences of GLTHS students while addressing the current limitations faced by LHS. Ms. Doherty stated that his what not what she was hoping for. She asked for information regarding cost per student. Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 8.9. Response to Motion (By Dominik Lay, 07/25/24) Regarding Tour of Jeanne D'Arc Building and LHS Dr. Hall, Chief Operating Officer, presented a report to the Committee informing them that a tour of the A tour of LHS to view construction progress is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. also on September 19, 2024. Mr. Bahou moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 8.1 through 8.9 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway) APPROVED 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Vote to Accept and Expend Renew America's Schools Prize and Grant Ms. Moses, City of Lowell Sustainability Director, informed the Committee about this opportunity and about all the facility upgrades that the schools are receiving. Superintendent Skinner respectfully requests that the School Committee vote to accept and expend up to $15,300,000.00 for the Renew America's Schools PÅze and Grant per MGL c. 71 s. 37A. Lowell Public Schools (I-PS) is one of only 16 Local Educational Agencies across the country chosen by the US Department of Energy for this prize-to-cooperative agreement opportunity. The initial $300,000 prize awarded allows LPS to enter into a cooperative agreement. Negotiations for the cooperative agreement are ongoing. When these negotiations are concluded, LPS will be eligible for up to an additional $15 million for ASHRAE Level 2 energy audits and energy-related facility upgrades at the 23 schools enrolled into the program. Ms. Doherty moved to ; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 9.2. Approval to Accept and Expend Allocated FY25 Awards The grants funds provided in the report have been secured by the Lowell Public Schools through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Energy. Mr. Lay moved to approve, accept and expend the allocated FY25 awards; seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 8 of 8) 9.3. Consideration of Proposed MOA for LHS Advisors Ms. Doherty moved to approve the MOA for LHS Advisors; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 9.4. Second Reading of School Visits and Hiring Policies Ms. Doherty moved to approve School Visits and Hiring Policies (BHC, GGBB, GBA & GCF); the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 5 yeas, 1 nay (Mr. Lay), 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 9.5. Home Education Superintendent Skinner recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Karina Martinez Beteline Nherisson Denise Thosychanh Diane Ross Ms. Martin moved to approve home education; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 10. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 10.1. Overnight Request: Lowell High School to Mt. Cardigan State Forest Ms. Doherty moved to approve the convention/conference request; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED 11. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Delrossi moved to adjourn at 8:06 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Conway). APPROVED Respectfully submitted, Liam Skinner, Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee LS/mes L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us