School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE , 2025 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: September 17, 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 6:35 p.m., members present were, namely: Mr. Conway, Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Mayor Rourke and Mr. Bahou. Ms. Delrossi was absent. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Superintendent's Evaluation Ms. Martin, Chairperson of the Personnel Subcommittee, informed the Committee that the End-of-Cycle Summative Evaluation Report assessed the Superintendent’s performance in three goal areas: (1) professional practice, (2) student learning, and (3) district improvement. The report also evaluated performance across four standards: (1) instructional leadership, (2) management and operations, (3) family and community engagement, and (4) professional culture. Goal progress was rated on a five-point scale: Did Not Meet the Goal, Some Progress, Significant Progress, Met Goals, and Exceeded Goals. Performance on the four standards was rated on a four-point scale: Unsatisfactory, Needs Improvement, Proficient, and Exemplary. The Superintendent’s overall summative rating was “Needs Improvement/Proficient.” Superintendent Skinner followed up with Committee members to ask clarifying questions regarding specific statements included in the evaluation. Ms. Martin moved to accept and to place this on file as a report of progress and to rate the Superintendent’s overall Summative Performance as Needs Improvement/Proficient; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 5) 4. MINUTES 4.1. The Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of September 3, 2025 Mr. Bahou moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee meeting that was held on September 3, 2025; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter - September 17, 2025 Ms. Doherty moved to approve the Permission to Enter; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. Leonard Flynn, Retired Principal of McAvinnue and Wang Schools, Daughters Margaret Chase, Adult Education Teacher, Martha McQuaide, Adult Education Counselor, and Sarah Waterhouse, Adult Education Registrar. 6.2. Dolores K. Abrams, Mother-in-Law of Claire Abrams, Retired Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum. 7. MOTIONS 7.1 [By David Conway]: Request the Superintendent develop an RFP and identify an outside school security company, (Subject Matter Experts), for the purpose of conducting a total safety and security assessment of the Lowell Public School System. Mr. Conway moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. Ms. Martin moved to send this to a Facilities Subcommittee for further discussion; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). 7.2. [By Dave Conway]: Request the Superintendent to present to the School Committee with six-month asbestos surveillance inspection conducted at the 16 District Schools named in the AHERA report. Also include which staff have received asbestos awareness training. Mr. Conway moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 5) 7.3. [By Fred Bahou]: Request the Administration provide to the School Committee the LPS grade advancement policy for grades 1-8 with focus on chronic absenteeism of over 10%, 20% & 30% in correlation to academic work completion and grade advancement. Mr. Bahou moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). 8. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 8.1. Response to Motion Updates - Regarding Maintenance of Effort and Further Detail on Title IV Funding Dr. Pinto, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, updated the Committee on the city’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) Report, which includes the latest information on MOE obligations and recent correspondence related to the agreement. To allow adequate time for review, an extension will be needed, as the report is due to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) by September 30. The report included an updated document for the Committee’s review. Dr. Pinto also presented an update on Title IV funding, in response to the Committee’s earlier request for additional details. The report includes a breakdown of planned uses in alignment with federal guidelines, along with supporting documentation. Both items were provided to ensure the Committee has the most current information and to close the loop on previous motions. No action is required at this time unless the Committee wishes to discuss it further. Ms. Martin moved to send the MOE report when provided to the Committee to a Finance Subcommittee meeting for further discussion; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). 8.2. Home Education Superintendent Skinner recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Lindsey Gresco Raiane Fontes Mariella Neyra-Brown Jennifer Kloppenburg Katelynn Laboy Melinda Deuso Steven Southard April Duffy Christian Bomquist and Sydney Lam Ms. Martin made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Ms. Delrossi). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 5) 9. NEW BUSINESS 9.1. Approval to Accept and Expend Allocated FY26 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. Lay moved to approve, accept and expend the allocated FY26 awards; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). 9.2. Request Approval of MIAA Sanctioned Cooperative Boys Ice Hockey Team Mr. Conway moved to approve the MIAA Sanctioned Cooperative Boys Ice Hockey Team; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). 9.3. Request Approval of Disposal of Surplus Materials Ms. Doherty moved to approve the Disposal of Surplus Materials; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). 10. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 10.1. Overnight Request for Professional Day Workshop, Newton, MA Ms. Martin moved to approve the convention/conference request; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). 10.2. Overnight Travel Request - OpenSciED Teacher PD, Norwood, MA Ms. Martin moved to approve the convention/conference request; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). 10.3. Overnight Travel Request - Democratic Knowledge Project Westborough, MA Ms. Martin moved to approve the convention/conference request; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). 11. PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL 11.1. The Members of the United Teachers of Lowell Hereby Donate three [3] sick leave days to William Ryan, Custodian at the Pawtucket Memorial School. Ms. Doherty moved to approve the professional personnel; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 5) 11.2. The Members of the Lowell SEIU Clerical Administrative Assistants Hereby donate forty-nine (49) sick leave days to Sarin Kim, SPED Administrative Assistant at the Central Office. Ms. Doherty moved to approve the professional personnel; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). 12. ADJOURNMENT Mr. Conway moved to adjourn at 7:29 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lay. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Ms. Delrossi). Respectfully submitted, Liam Skinner, Superintendent and Secretary to the Lowell School Committee Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us