jackiedoherty.org

News, schools, and views from a uniquely Lowell perspective

Motions, Term 2

I submitted the following 28 motions during my second term on the school committee, which was from January 2006-December 2007.

1/13/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report on the district’s progress in meeting new federal legislation, Public Law 108-265, requiring a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006. According to the law, the local wellness policy shall include:

  • Goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based activities
  • Nutrition guidelines
  • Guidelines for reimbursable school meals
  • A plan for measuring implementation of the local wellness policy, including designation of 1 or more persons within the local educational agency or at each school, as appropriate, charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that each school fulfills the district’s local wellness policy
  • Community involvement, including parents, students, and representatives of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators, and the public in the development of the school wellness policy

1/13/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Special Education Subcommittee comparing data on students receiving special education services over the last three years that includes: 1. The number and percentage of students receiving services by age, grade, ethnicity and income level; 2. The number and percentage of appeals to special education decisions and the outcomes of those appeals (including associated costs); and 3. The MCAS scores of special education students and how they relate to this group’s adequate yearly progress as mandated by No Child Left Behind. The report should also explain the process and timeframe for identifying a student is need of special education services, as well as the process and timeframe for determining when those services are no longer required.

3/10/06

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a comprehensive report updating the committee on professional development efforts at the elementary, middle, and high school levels over the last two years. The report should include the focus of those efforts, the associated costs, the number of hours involved both during and after school, and the results of those efforts on teaching instruction throughout the district.

6/7/06

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a plan to the Lowell High School Subcommittee on how to improve lunches at the Freshman Academy for implementation in the Fall.

6/7/06

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Lowell High School Subcommittee updating the committee on the status of existing academies, including the number of students and teachers in those academies and how those numbers have changed over the last few years. In addition, as part of this report, information on the Communications Academy should also include the number of staff who are videotaping school events and hours involved in this task, the type and quantity of equipment available for student and staff use, and a list of the programs/events completed for broadcast in the last quarter of the 2005-2006 school year.

9/6/06

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a report on the summer school program to the Curriculum Subcommittee. The report should include an analysis by site of the number of students and teachers participating, a breakdown of the costs for each location, as well as any indicators of the program’s impact on student performance.

10/04/06

(by John Leahy and Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide the committee with information on the possibility of broadcasting subcommittee meetings either on LTC or Lowell Educational TV.

10/04/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a list of potential consultants or outside agencies to conduct an investigation of personnel practices involving an individual’s CORI check and subsequent promotion.

10/04/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Technology Subcommittee detailing the timeline and rationale for the selection of the X2 Data System, as well as the schedule and process used to implement the new system.

11/1/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Special Education Subcommittee regarding the services provided to children identified with Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD). The report should include the number of children currently served in special PDD programs, as well as information regarding the location and focus of these programs. The report should also provide details regarding PDD children who are currently mainstreamed, including breakouts of how many have paraprofessionals assigned to them or close adult supervision, where those children are located throughout the district, and what the philosophy is for meeting their needs in a typical classroom setting.

11/1/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Curriculum Subcommittee that disaggregates recent MCAS data to enable more comprehensive examination of the results achieved by majority middle-class students, English Language Learners, special education, low income, and ethnic categories.

11/15/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Curriculum Subcommittee on the number of children grades 3-8 who are reading two or more levels below grade. Include with the data a breakdown of how many of those children are English Language Learners, EDBD students or special education students.

11/1/06

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Facilities Subcommittee regarding the status of recycling efforts throughout the district as well as suggestions for expanding the program.

3/7/07

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a report to update the committee on plans for the 2007 summer school program, including sites and students to be included, scheduling and plans for outreach to parents and students, follow up plans to ensure attendance, teacher hiring, and any other efforts to provide for an effective academic program and efficient use of resources.

3/7/07

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Facilities Subcommittee on the status of telephone service throughout the district.

3/21/07

(by Jackie Doherty and John Leahy) Request the Superintendent provide a report on the programs currently in place throughout the district to prevent student involvement in gangs.

5/2/07

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a report to the committee on middle school attendance that includes the average number of absences by grade, school, and ethnicity over the last two years as well as up-to-date data for the current school year. The report should also include information regarding percentage of students retained, required to attend summer school, and other consequences or interventions related to attendance at the middle-school level.

5/2/07

(by Jackie Doherty) Request the Superintendent provide a report to the LHS subcommittee on current outreach efforts to all Lowell eighth-grade students and their families. The report should include processes in place to welcome these families to Lowell High and inform them about summer school opportunities, such as the advanced math course, band camp, and freshmen football, as well as the many other positive experiences available to students when they attend Lowell High School.

7/18/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Transportation Subcommittee listing intersections currently covered by crossing guards and a priority list of intersections where crossing guards are needed. Also, develop a plan for subcommittee review of how schools can work with parents to coordinate car pool and/or group walking options for students ineligible for bus transportation.

7/18/07

(by Jackie Doherty).-.Request the Superintendent report to the Facilities Subcommittee before the state’s July 31 deadline on the district’s ability to take advantage of additional state funding for school building maintenance.

9/5/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide an update on the status of the committee’s request from October 2006 regarding the possibility of broadcasting subcommittee meetings, in particular, the feasibility of establishing a high school communications club and using LTC to videotape subcommittee meetings on a pilot basis.

(by Kevin McHugh and Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide the committee with a follow up report on scholarship awards that includes a breakdown of award recipients by gender, ethnicity, class standing, income status, and number/dollar value of awards given to each recipient.

11/7/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report that identifies all outside groups involved with the district by school, including information on the students served, the nature and time commitments of each program, and the contact person coordinating it.

11/7/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Facilities Subcommittee on the status and timetable for achieving priority physical repairs to the Molloy School, specifically an outside door lock, sufficient water bubblers, and restroom doors as needed. The report should also include a timetable for removing old furniture from the school, painting the cafeteria and surrounding halls, and adding partitions to create a faculty area.

11/7/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report that identifies all outside groups involved with the district by school, including information on the students served, the nature and time commitments of each program, and the contact person coordinating it.

11/7/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report to the Facilities Subcommittee on the status and timetable for achieving priority physical repairs to the Molloy School, specifically an outside door lock, sufficient water bubblers, and restroom doors as needed. The report should also include a timetable for removing old furniture from the school, painting the cafeteria and surrounding halls, and adding partitions to create a faculty area.

12/5/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a report that compares the high school’s current graduation requirements with the Board of Education’s new MassCore program to improve student readiness for college. The report should include the steps necessary to move toward the state’s recommended requirements, including any staff changes and associated costs.

12/19/07

(by Jackie Doherty) – Request the Superintendent provide a comprehensive, mid-year update on the results of efforts to improve student attendance at the high school, including data from all internal and external programs involved.

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