School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: October 2, 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 6:31 p.m., all members present were, namely: Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Mayor Rourke, Mr. Bahou and Mr. Conway. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Spotlight On Excellence Moody School - DESE School of Recognition Ms. Keefe, the Principal of the Moody School, addressed the Committee to share the exciting news from designated as a 2024 School of Recognition. Ms. Keefe praised the outstanding work of her staff. Mr. Bahou moved to suspend the rules to take item #10.2. Approval to Accept Donation of AED Machine out of order; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 4. MINUTES 4.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of September 18, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and the Regularly Scheduled School Committee meetings held on September 18, 2024; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 155 Merrimack http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 5) 4.2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of September 18, 2024 Mr. Lay moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and the Regularly Scheduled School Committee meetings held on September 18, 2024; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter Mr. Conway moved to approve the Permission to Enter; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Martin) APPROVED 5.2. Ratification of Collective Bargaining Agreement with LSAA SY 24 25 Ms. Delrossi moved to approve the Collective Bargaining Agreements with LSAA; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. Philip A. Donahue - Brother of Tara Donahue Gabriel - Morey Social Worker. 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. Mr. Conway moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 8. SUBCOMMITTEES 8.1. School Improvement & Performance Management Subcommittee: Report of the Meeting of Wednesday, September 11, 2024 [Fred Bahou, Chairperson] Mr. Bahou, Chairperson of the School Improvement and Performance Management Subcommittee, provided an overview of the subcommittee's work. He stated that Superintendent Skinner presented a PowerPoint at the subcommittee meeting that highlighted steady enrollment trends, including a breakdown of racial demographics that indicated some shifts. The presentation also compared school profiles. He mentioned that the district currently operates with two zones but proposed considering a third zone to potentially reduce transportation costs. He acknowledged several issues, including the impact of K 8 schools on zoning, and pointed out that, in practice, the district already functions with three zones. He cautioned that focusing on neighborhood schools could lead to racial imbalance and asserted that the district cannot support four or five zones; three is the maximum. L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 5) He then discussed Aramark, the food service company currently servicing Lowell schools. He mentioned that Ms. Spooner-Gomez, the General Manager at Aramark, addressed the subcommittee and informed them that she is a registered dietitian. Mr. Bahou emphasized that food service in schools is heavily regulated and that all meals served must meet specific state guidelines to qualify for reimbursement under the free lunch program. Ms. Doherty requested that the administration provide more information to the Committee as a whole regarding transportation and zoning, emphasizing the need for efficiency and equity. Ms. Doherty moved to accept the report as a report of progress; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 9. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 9.1. 2024 MCAS Results and Accountability Report Ms. Crocker-Roberge, Assistant Superintendent of Schools and Leadership, presented a report to the Committee outlining the accountability data released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on September 24, 2024. The accountability system was implemented in full for the first time since 2019 and was again fully executed in 2024. As a result, all schools received an overall accountability classification, along with student percentiles and ratings for their progress toward targets for both the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, allowing for year-to-year comparisons. The Lowell Public Schools received an overall classification of "not requiring assistance or intervention" for 2024. A set of targets was issued to each individual school in Spring 2024. The district was recognized for making 47% progress toward its improvement targets, which the State considers moderate progress. Ms. Doherty asked about the turn around status and asked how many were connected to the community school model. She stated that it shows great growth. She asked how many of the 11 that need assistance are under the community school model. Ms. Crocker-Roberge stated approximately 6. consistent as the other schools and asked Superintendent Skinner stated that lots of hard work is being done and that he believes the community schools is not the only thing that is helping. Ms. Martin moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.3 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 9.2. Response to Motion (By Eileen DelRossi, 05/15/24) Regarding Mental Health Support Ms. Brown-LeGrand, Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services, presented a report to the Committee regarding the anticipated impact of the FY 2025 budget cycle on several positions due to a L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 5) reduction in available funding. Some of the potentially affected positions were related to mental health services. Throughout the budgeting process, the district prioritized student mental health and well- being, allowing many of these positions to be retained. Once the final budget was approved in Spring 2024, the number of mental health positions affected by reductions was minimal and less than anticipated. During the 2023-24 school year, there were a total of 53.4 social worker positions and 25 school counselor positions across all schools. Currently, there are 52.4 social worker positions and 25 school counselor positions. Ms. Martin moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.3 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 9.3. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 01/03/2024) Regarding Pest Control Dr. Hall, the Chief Operating Officer, presented a report that included an electronic copy of two years of records from Banner Pest Control, as requested. The facilities department has also outlined specific expectations for future collaboration with Banner Pest Control. Ms. Doherty asked about the poisons that are being used. Ms. Martin moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.3 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 10. NEW BUSINESS 10.1. 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. Mr. Bahou moved to approve, accept and expend the allocated FY25 awards; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. APPROVED 10.2. Approval to Accept Donation of AED Machine The Adam Keenan Foundation, located in Lowell, works to ensure that athletic fields and public places throughout the Merrimack Valley have at least one AED on site and provides training for the AEDs and CPR to the coaches, as well as interested parents. In the past, the Foundation has donated AED machines to numerous public parks around the city, in honor of Adam Keenan, a talented student- athlete and graduate of the Lowell Public Schools, who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest while playing baseball for UMass Lowell. There has been a need for an additional AED for the STEM Academy gym, as it is a high use facility, and this AED would provide quicker access in the event of a cardiac event. This machine will come with the storage cabinet, supplies, and a one-year service/maintenance agreement. In addition, the device will be installed with no additional cost to the district. Ms. Doherty moved to accept the donation of an AED Machine; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas. APPROVED L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 5) 10.3. SPED Stabilization Reserve Request Ms. Doherty moved to approve the SPED stabilization reserve request of $2,972,445; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 7 yeas. APPROVED 10.4. Budget Modification Request Mr. Lay moved to approve the budget modification request of $25,825.00; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou The motion passed with 7 yeas. APPROVED 10.5. Status Update on ESSER Funds Mr. Pinto, the Assistant Superintendent of Finance, provided an update on ESSER funds, informing the Committee that the total allocated amount for ESSER III was $40,167,351. Approximately $39,647,560 (98%) of these funds have been committed. The remaining balance of $519,791 will be earmarked for technology and other qualifying expenses from the general fund. ESSER III funds were approved on August 26, 2021, with a deadline for expenses and encumbrances set for September 30, 2024, and all funds must be spent by December 31, 2024. Ms. Doherty asked about the administrative positions funded by ESSER and if they will be going onto the local budget. Superintendent Skinner stated that it remains to be seen. He said that in the spring the Committee Mr. Lay moved to accept the report as a report of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 7 yeas APPROVED 11. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Lay moved to adjourn at 7:38 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 7 yeas. APPROVED Respectfully submitted, Liam Skinner, Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee LS/mes L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us