School committee approves expenditures, accepts donations and handbook changes; several routine finance items passed

The Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical School Committee voted on several routine administrative and finance items during the meeting.

Finance and routine approvals - The committee approved expenditures of $4,853,072.10 after a motion on the record. - The business manager presented and the committee approved a set of salary-related transfers to ensure accounts are encumbered for the coming year. - The committee approved a correction to a prior warrants vote to remove a duplicated warrant, aligning the approved total with actual spending.

Donations and program support - The committee voted to participate in Brunt Workwear’s boot donation program and request seven pallets of boots (approximately 100 pairs per pallet) for use by students in construction, transportation, metal fabrication and evening programs. The only district cost reported is shipping at $250 per pallet, for a total shipping cost of $1,750. - The committee accepted a donation of a 2012 Toyota Venza from Jim and Roberta Tomicchio of Methuen, Mass., with an estimated value of $4,300 and approximately 250,000 miles; the vehicle will be used for mock repairs and instructional demonstrations in the shop.

Program handbook - The committee approved changes to the Greater Lowell School of Practical Nursing student handbook, including an AI usage policy for course assignments (with notifications to students when AI is permitted), alignment of harassment language to the school-wide Title IX harassment policy, and addition of an APN calendar at the request of the VA catalog.

Votes were recorded on the meeting transcript by roll call; the motions listed above were approved on the record. No ordinances, charter changes or policy adoptions beyond the practical nursing handbook updates were enacted.