School Committee

LOWELL SCHOOL COMMITTEE , 2025 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Date: October 15, 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 call at 6:34 p.m., members present were, namely: Ms. Doherty, Mr. Lay, Ms. Martin, Mr. Bahou, Mr. Conway and Ms. Delrossi. Mayor Rourke was absent. 3. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS 3.1. Spotlight On Excellence: Stoklosa Middle School "School of Recognition" for 2025 The Spotlight on Excellence recognized Stoklosa Middle School, recently named a 2025 School of Recognition. Principal Cardaci expressed his gratitude to the Committee, emphasizing that the honor was the result of a true team effort. He was joined by several members of his school community and shared his appreciation for the ongoing support received for both his staff and students. 4. MINUTES 4.1. The Approval of the Minutes of the Regularly Scheduled Lowell School Committee Meeting of October 1, 2025 Mr. Bahou moved to accept and place on file the minutes of the Regularly Scheduled School Committee meeting that was held on October 1, 2025; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Mayor Rourke). 5. PERMISSION TO ENTER 5.1. Permission to Enter – October 15, 2025 Ms. Doherty moved to approve the Permission to Enter; the motion was seconded by Mr. Conway. The motion passed with 5 yeas, 2 absent. (Mayor Rourke, Ms. Martin). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 2 of 5) 6. MEMORIALS 6.1. Edward James Kennedy Jr., Massachusetts State Senator, former Mayor and City Council of Lowell, MA. 7. MOTIONS 7.1. [By David Conway]: Request the Superintendent or his designee to contact the city manager’s office to discuss replacing the tennis courts / back boards at Shedd Park. Mr. Conway moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Mayor Rourke). 7.2. [By Fred Bahou]: Have the Superintendent & his administration share a report on how many students have been approved for home schooling in each of the last 3 years, how many are the same students, Supports LPS offers to those students & families, and do we have LPS contacting the family during the school year? Mr. Bahou moved to approve; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Mayor Rourke). 8. SUBCOMMITTEES 8.1. The Approval of the Minutes of the Finance Subcommittee Meeting of September 30, 2025 Mr. Bahou, Chair of the Finance Subcommittee, informed the Committee that the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlines a shared understanding between the City and the Lowell School Committee regarding how municipal charges/services provided by city departments to or on behalf of the school district are reported to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in the End-of-Year Pupil and Financial Report. There are as follows: ➢ Non-Discretionary Expenses will be reported and count toward Net School Spending (NSS). ➢ Discretionary Expenses - Reported and counted toward NSS with School Committee approval. ➢ Reported but Not Counted Toward NSS. ➢ Reported Payments to Other School Districts. Mr. Bahou stated that Dr. Pinto has requested an extension from DESE. Once all required information is submitted, DESE will confirm compliance. He also reported a correction in the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) amount was incorrect. The city will provide a corrected MOE. Several additional changes were also requested, including updated labels and headings, modifications to tables, and the inclusion of dates and timelines. Ms. Doherty moved to accept the report as a report of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 3 of 5) 9. REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT 9.1. Response to Motion (By Jackie Doherty, 05/21/25) Regarding Maintenance of Effort from the City and Prior to Certification Update Dr. Pinto, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, informed the Committee that he and his team recommend the Committee accept and certify the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) report to allow for the timely submission of the End-of-Year Report (EOYR) to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The Committee proceeds with the understanding that Dr. Pinto, his team, and the City are actively working to further refine the MOE report to enhance its accessibility for stakeholders. Additionally, all calculations and dollar amounts have been reviewed and verified in accordance with the 2011 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Ms. Doherty moved for the Committee to have an ongoing role (regarding the MOE) prior to the end of the year report; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.4 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). 9.2. Response to Motion (By David Conway, 10/01/25) Regarding Bike Rack Information Ms. Crocker Roberge, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools & Leadership informed the Committee that Safety Coordinator Lesa Breault-Gulbicki conducted an inventory of the bicycle racks at each school. All middle schools and K-8 schools have at least one bike rack, and Lowell High School has two racks, including at the Freshman Academy. The Career Academy and Leblanc Schools do not currently have bike racks but will support students with storage in the building as needed. None of our current stand- alone elementary schools has a bike rack. Students at the Cardinal O'Connell, Adie Day School, and Laura Lee take specialized transportation or families who self-transport. Mr. Conway moved to accept the following Reports of the Superintendent 9.1 through 9.4 as reports of progress; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). Mr. Conway moved to suspend the rules to allow Ms. Espinal to address the Committee regarding agenda item #10.1. Safety Subcommittee Memo; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). Ms. Espinal informed the Committee that she doesn’t believe that the high school is safe and that more measures need to be in place to make sure that the students and staff are safe. 9.3. Response to Motion (By Fred Bahou, 09/17/25) Regarding Attendance and Grade Advancement Mr. Bahou moved to send this report to the School Improvement Subcommittee for further discussion; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 4 of 5) 9.4. Adult Education and Family Literacy Grants Update Dr. Pinto, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, informed the Committee that the program has received State and/or Federal funding since 1977 and that the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) determines the funding source annually. Dr. Pinto is going to provide more information to the Committee around this update. 9.5. Home Education Superintendent Skinner recommended that the following parents/guardians be allowed to home educate their child: Shatira Solivan Leah Snelders Mr. Bahou made a motion to approve; seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Mayor Rourke). 10. NEW BUSINESS 10.1. Safety Subcommittee Memo The members on the Safety Subcommittee is as follows: Chairperson Martin Ms. Delrossi Mr. Lay Mr. Conway made a motion to approve; seconded by Mr. Bahou. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent. (Mayor Rourke). 10.2. 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. Conway moved to approve, accept and expend the allocated FY26 awards; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). 10.3. Budget Modification Request Ms. Martin moved to approve the budget modification in the amount of $721,169; the motion was seconded by Ms. Doherty. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). Lowell Public Schools • 155 Merrimack Street • Lowell, MA 01852 • http://www.lowell.k12.ma.us  (Page 5 of 5) 11. CONVENTION/CONFERENCE REQUESTS 11.1. Out of State Overnight Request - Butler School to Washington, DC Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the convention/conference requests; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). 11.2. Out of State Overnight Request - Wang School to Washington, DC Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the convention/conference requests; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). 11.3. Out of State Overnight Travel Request - AFJROTC Drill Team Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the convention/conference requests; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). 11.4. Overnight Conference Travel Request - Chatham, MA Mr. Bahou moved to bundle and approve the convention/conference requests; the motion was seconded by Ms. Martin. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). 12. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Doherty moved to adjourn at 7:46 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Ms. Delrossi. The motion passed with 6 yeas, 1 absent (Mayor Rourke). 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