School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE , 2025 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: May 21, 2025 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 skeo@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 6:34 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Ms. Martin, Mayor Rourke and Mr. Bahou. Mr. Lay arrived at 6:40 p.m. 3. MINUTES 3.1. Approval of the Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Lowell School Committee of May 7, 2025. Ms. Martin moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and Regularly Scheduled School Committee meetings that were held on May 7, 2025; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Lay). 3.2. The Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of May 7, 2025. Ms. Martin moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Special and Regularly Scheduled School Committee meetings that were held on May 7, 2025; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Lay). 4. PERMISSION TO ENTER 4.1. Permission to Enter - May 21, 2025 Mr. Conway moved to approve the Permission to Enter; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Lay). Ms. Martin moved to recess at 6:36 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mr. Lay). 155 Merrimack http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 6) 5. UNFINISHED BUSINESS On a roll call at 6:36 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Ms. Martin, Mayor Rourke and Mr. Bahou. Mr. Lay arrived at 6:40 p.m. 5.1. Public Budget Hearing Page 20 235x: Professional Development $4,074,805 Ms. Doherty inquired about why the district does not have the same access to Munis as City Hall. Mr. Conway asked the Superintendent whether he has met with the City Manager. Superintendent Skinner responded that while he has not met with the City Manager in person, he has had conversations with him. Ms. Delrossi moved to move a Literacy Specialist position to the Suspense Account and to receive evidence in a summary form from the School Site Council; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). Ms. Doherty moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $3,960,398; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 21 24XX: Instructional Materials $6,574,723 Ms. Delrossi moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $6,574,723; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 22 27/28xx: Guidance Counselors $13,150,016 Ms. Doherty requested a detailed breakdown of the SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) teachers. Ms. Doherty moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $13,150,016; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 23 & 24 3000: Attendance & Parent Liaison $4,067,568 Superintendent Skinner informed the Committee that there was an error in the budget, as two District Support Specialists should have been included instead of just one. Ms. Martin emphasized that the budget should accurately reflect grant-funded positions. L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 6) Ms. Delrossi moved to restore the SLIFE District Support Specialist; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Ms. Martin moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $4,432,441; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 25 3300: Transportation $15,319,012 Mr. Lay moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $15,319,012; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 26 3400: Food Service $0 This information in the budget book is informational. Page 27 & 28 3500: Athletics & Student Activities $1,848,532 Ms. Mr. Lay moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $1,848,532; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 29 3300: Custodial & Security Services $9,404,872 Mr. Sheehan addressed the Committee about the need for more custodians. Superintendent Skinner stated that he will investigate the custodial overtime account. Ms. Doherty moved to move $500,000 to the Suspense Account from Custodial Services; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Mr. Bahou moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $8,904,872; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 30 5100/5200: Employee Benefits & Retirement $29,824,808 Ms. Doherty moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $29,824,808; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 7 yeas. L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 6) Mr. Lay moved to put the Early Childhood Program in Abeyance; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 30 5350: Rental of Buildings $894,356 Mr. Conway moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $894,356; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 30 7000: Capital Outlay $500,000 Ms. Doherty moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $500,000; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Page 31 7000: Out of District Budget $10,333,486 Ms. Doherty moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $10,333,486; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Suspense Account $3,992,638 Ms. Doherty moved to approve the bottom-line figure of $3,992,638; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Mr. Conway moved to approve the Lowell Public Schools FY2026 final bottom-line figure at $272,853,989 and to submit the FY2026 Budget to the City Manager; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Ms. Martin moved to adjourn at 8:58 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 7 yeas. 6. MOTIONS On a roll call at 9:01 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Mayor Rourke and Mr. Bahou. 6.1. [By Jackie Doherty]: Request the Superintendent provide the committee with the Memorandum of Agreement between the City and Schools re Maintenance of Effort (MOE) as well as the 2023-24 MOE Report. In addition, provide the committee with the 2024-25 Maintenance of Effort Report as soon as it is available from the City and PRIOR to certification. Ms. Doherty moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas. L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 6) 7. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 7.1. Strategic Plan Draft The members of the Steering Committee, in collaboration with our partners at Attuned Education, are Two formats of the plan have been developed: Narrative Version and key success measures. Web-Friendly Version A visually engaging format that combines essential narrative content with graphics, designed to clearly communicate goals and action steps to all stakeholders including our youngest student readers. Once finalized, the plan will be translated into all high-incidence languages to ensure accessibility for our diverse community. In addition, the district will introduce interactive digital features on our website that allow users to click through each section of the plan and hear the content read aloud. Our goal is to launch and implement this five-year plan with a strong commitment to transparency, inclusion, and accessibility for every stakeholder. Mr. Lay moved to accept the Report of the Superintendent as a report of progress; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. 8. NEW BUSINESS 8.1. 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 Community Initiatives (CI) in collaboration with One8Foundation and the Nordblom Family Foundation. Ms. Martin moved to approve, accept and expend the allocated FY25 awards; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 7 yeas. 8.2. Vote - Re: MGL C.71 S.37M Mr. Bahou moved to suspend the rules to allow Mr. Sheehan to address the Committee; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Mr. Sheehan addressed the Committee and asked the Committee not to support the creation of a combined facilities department. Dr. Hall, Assistant Superintendent of HR & Operations informed the Committee that on May 6, 2025, the City Council voted to adopt the provisions of MGL c. 71 s. 37M, with respect to the creation of a combined facilities department with the City/DPW & School Department/ Facilities. We were provided with a certified copy of the vote (attached). Dr. Hall also provided Section 71m. The next step in the L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 6 of 6) process would be for the School Committee to consider, and vote, on the adoption of the statute. The City requested that we place the matter on the School Committee agenda, on behalf of the Mayor and the Members of the City Council. Mr. Bahou moved to approve Re: MGL C.71 S.37M (the creation of a combined facilities department with the City/DPW & School Department/ Facilities); the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion failed with 1 yea, 6 nays (Mr. Conway, Ms. Delrossi, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Mr. Bahou). 8.3. Budget Modification Request Ms. Doherty moved to approve the budget modification in the amount of $3,232,438.11; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Ms. Doherty moved to reschedule the June 18th Lowell School Committee meeting to June 11 th, 2025; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 7 yeas. 9. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Lay moved to adjourn at 9:23 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 7 yeas. Respectfully submitted, Liam Skinner, Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee LS/mes L http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us