[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6267850,"mediaKeyId","3061769-38f5eb43526edb4fe892c5b4356013d3","parentId",3061769,"title","Greater Lowell recognizes state champions, receives grants and donations for new programs","audioSeconds",482,"startMs",898000,"endMs",1380000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3061769-38f5eb43526edb4fe892c5b4356013d3&start=898&end=1380","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3061769-38f5eb43526edb4fe892c5b4356013d3/thumbnail_898000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267850/Massachusetts/Greater-Lowell-recognizes-state-champions-receives-grants-and-donations-for-new-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267850-6b64ada8dbe863854202bc5bbdfde9f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773617348&Signature=C~NM8G3ddnccsf3nz5zwAqaH1C4XziF3g8MQDoMk23c~JxeLjDnaHlKUrItHSb9vMSMOAXt86SYXgxJlwVV0vyp~GsSBXn7fqYXasyVtxlMurYhnD8dO20~JNvbFaFGbO94rczVpht-9nGUY0ahWRFAI4yoD4KKYjwq5hR1tw1OMe6Ms4QGDiJEdsq3WBtjnCuC3gsbKWUamUdU3IPI8K0AFgV4Jf4hoUM2m93UhQlnB4XSgF17GCO8JtlJSp2j3J2kfI-Hukl9ayOZJHHcD2BuUcye0FK623gBY2dPJ21vy2hldh11cUL0~LUgOeJ536ORsX5RwbjuD~izDF97BgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Greater Lowell Technical High School, MA","date","2025-04-18T12:02:09Z","article","Superintendent/Director recognized student-athletes and coaches at the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee meeting.

The committee honored Lily Normandy, a senior in the auto-technology program, who won the girls state vocational wrestling championship and the Division 1 girls state wrestling championship this season. The superintendent said Normandy had been a wrestler for four years and congratulated her on the accomplishments.

The committee also recognized Antoine Jackman, a sophomore in the electrical program, who the superintendent said was the first wrestler in Greater Lowell Technical High School history to earn All-American status at the National High School Coaches Association tournament in Virginia Beach. The superintendent cited Jackman’s season record and regional and state placings and described him as “a Greater Lowell Technical High School all star.”

The committee invited the cheerleading team and coaches to the table to recognize their season. The superintendent listed team achievements: 2025 state vocational champions, 2025 Division 1 North regional champions, second place at the Division 1 states and fourth place at the New England championships. Team captains introduced themselves to the committee.

Separately, staff announced grants and donations: a federal career-connected learning program development grant for $35,000 to purchase equipment for a new veterinary science program; the 2025 Marcia Paul education grant for $2,500 for aquaponics monitoring and automation for STEM; and a $4,367 donation from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (split between a $1,000 scholarship gift from Merrimack Valley Rotary Club and $3,367 to student activities from Mark and Alisa Saab). A business-office motion to accept the donations was approved.

The superintendent and board thanked athletes, coaches and families for their support and highlighted the role of partnerships in student success.

Why it matters: The recognition highlights student achievement in athletics and the grants and donations support new and expanding technical and STEM programs at the school.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee Meeting April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee recognized two wrestlers and the cheer team for state and regional achievements, and staff announced several grants and donations including a $35,000 federal career-connected learning grant for a veterinary science program and a $2,500 Marcia Paul education grant for aquaponics.","taxTitle","Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",69161,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6267855,"Committee approves expenditures, donations, budget amendments and personnel actions",2699,852000,3551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3061769-38f5eb43526edb4fe892c5b4356013d3&start=852&end=3551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3061769-38f5eb43526edb4fe892c5b4356013d3/thumbnail_852000.jpg","/articles/6267855/Massachusetts/Committee-approves-expenditures-donations-budget-amendments-and-personnel-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267855-d7a82e6675d8c258f5f39fda11effaaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773617348&Signature=LknmntaZRjlgOtZGrI-7jQElv~hNgwShMshUjbZV6xoeEk5ZM~Q3IeWKsIxRZs6JWpKplpwm-yTjJksmmMUdGRoSsNZPQZ9sLOqirOUImykGzsOXosIKTL2FdO9FTKACgXz4Rs6jPUT8DDGmm1Izs4E4vG8LFHFnBk1cM5An~C-NV~xZboXH6bLg5F-j8V0VNe5B2WrNHrt2eUXjhRSooZGq9V2vvS9f~TtRWHNw-61Je2yhgLtLsLOu3xr5K5jUj6LZDAwVz~~9ln4GyQ-OU853fToDBRGaXFTJGO0peZ-EO5aQ6rJaEH2d2bUATdknGfqLPI5kTuGWrKC5hhS4aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the meeting the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School Committee took a series of formal actions on routine financial and personnel items.

The committee approved an expenditures warrant totaling $4,983,146.22. The committee also accepted several donations: $4,367 from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (including a $1,000 Merrimack Valley Rotary Club gift for the Lawrence L. Day Memorial Scholarship Fund and $3,367 from Mark and Alisa Saab for student activities), and two donated 3D printers from a local vendor (estimated value $1,200 each). The committee approved budget transfers to reallocate department savings into new programs and instructional equipment.

Business staff asked the committee to increase the FY26 budget by $425,000 using the district’s certified excess and deficiency balance. The committee approved the FY26 amendment; the business manager said the change will not alter member-community assessments and noted the district’s certified reserve is just under the statutory cap.

The committee approved the proposed 2025–26 school committee meeting schedule with a single date adjustment discussed during the meeting. The committee voted to renew the district treasurer’s one-year contract to include a 4% cost-of-living increase, and later approved a 4% salary increase for a set of noncontractual administrators and staff as listed on the agenda.

Other routine actions included a motion to enter executive session under M.G.L. c.30A, §21(a)(2) for nonunion personnel negotiations and a motion to adjourn; both were approved by roll call.

Why it matters: These votes set the district’s near-term fiscal and personnel posture, approve small grants and equipment donations for instructional use, and authorize using certified reserves to fund FY26 priorities.","The Greater Lowell School Committee approved routine and fiscal items including a $4.98 million expenditures warrant, acceptance of donations, budget transfers, a $425,000 FY26 budget amendment from reserves, school meeting schedule, and 4% cost-of-living increases for specified noncontractual personnel.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6267860,"Committee voices concerns over DESE lottery proposal for vocational admissions, urges public comment",1592,1632000,3224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3061769-38f5eb43526edb4fe892c5b4356013d3&start=1632&end=3224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3061769-38f5eb43526edb4fe892c5b4356013d3/thumbnail_1632000.jpg","/articles/6267860/Massachusetts/Committee-voices-concerns-over-DESE-lottery-proposal-for-vocational-admissions-urges-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267860-c7fdcac1ed6c5b5878bbf512cbd42ea0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773617348&Signature=DA5B2ax30M4F-iZKxWbeG5l-wpI6PeeZjEXUDMiynlxb0F3RI42fmKn4tddlzbRjnDHrBXxbc23iwGjeVKLJ5ExRBS2aXNShJFuzHjYREwselBVnW9FnDdGzp6zHcAgt-wWCrPFCNLMJ4XhDf2oL58uQq0SzVAdOKSK-4rFltkVMtr0SkvuuHAaFrZfd15OjU0ShzHaEmyKKr281bR3r4c3RXpbpsLPo1rmFEyXcTKF-2EEQ~grojsjnvas4a84gzu6XIvbbO0Kr19WS9Yf7NzNh14bGPMvYX~LmLmEImvSog2bO7dWjm-n3MHi6fFMxEtpozey9q1p1zPQ2HEswWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At tonight’s meeting of the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee, Lisa Martinez, director of technology, enrollment and information, updated members on a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) proposal to replace selective vocational admissions with a lottery-based system and urged the committee to oppose the change.

Martinez said the district is also considering not participating in the statewide school choice program because of a long wait list. “One of the reasons that we’re looking to not participate is because of our wait list. It’s a very long wait list,” Martinez said, adding that out-of-district applicants currently go to the end of the list and are unlikely to receive seats.

Martinez described key elements of the DESE proposal and the committee’s concerns. Under the draft rules, applicants could receive multiple lottery entries for factors such as limited suspensions and attendance: “All applicants with fewer than 27 infractions…will also receive an additional entry,” Martinez said, summarizing the proposal. She warned that the proposed thresholds — including a threshold tied to “fewer than 27 unexcused absences” — could “undermine the value of regular attendance and the technical training where hands on hours are irreplaceable.”

Committee members echoed concerns about readiness, safety and capacity. Several members said the lottery would remove measures they use to ensure students are prepared and safe in hands-on training and that the system would “water down” vocational programs if admissions standards were lowered. Members repeatedly identified the root problem as insufficient seats rather than admissions criteria: “The problem is lack of available seats, to meet the growing demand of vocational education,” a committee member said.

Martinez said the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators and local legislators are working to preserve selective criteria and that a task force amendment is being circulated in the Legislature. She described the task force as a potential, collaborative alternative: it would include vocational administrators, DESE representatives, business owners and community members to review data and recommend policy.

The committee voted to support the district’s decision not to participate in school choice, a separate procedural action tied to capacity concerns. Martinez urged the public to submit comment to the governor’s office and BESE; she said the public comment period closes tomorrow at 5 p.m. and that DESE will discuss public comments at a meeting in late April.

The discussion closed with members asking that the task force, if approved, visit Greater Lowell so members can show “what goes on on a daily basis in a vocational technical high school,” Martinez said.

Why it matters: The DESE proposal would change the admissions process for vocational schools across the state. Committee members say the change could affect student safety, hands-on training hours required for trade certification, and local capacity; the committee encouraged stakeholders to weigh in with DESE and the governor’s office before the comment deadline.","At a Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School committee meeting, staff and members criticized a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education proposal to move to a lottery-based admission system for vocational schools, raised safety and attendance concerns, and encouraged public comment and support for a proposed task force.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Greater Lowell recognizes state champions, receives grants and donations for new programs

Committee approves expenditures, donations, budget amendments and personnel actions

Committee voices concerns over DESE lottery proposal for vocational admissions, urges public comment