Lowell School Committee advances budget after heated public comments urging protection for student support staff

The Lowell School Committee on April 15 debated and approved several FY27 budget adjustments after an extended public comment period in which students, school staff and parents urged the committee to preserve student support specialists, clerk schedulers and school-based social workers.

Dozens of speakers described how the positions targeted for cuts are central to day-to-day student supports. "They're not just staff. They're mentors," student Jason Lozada told the committee, describing a student support specialist who helped him avoid suspension and stay on track toward graduation. Multiple clerical schedulers and counselors said cuts would shift vital administrative work onto counselors and reduce time counselors can spend face-to-face with students.

Administration officials defended the proposed allocations while promising more detail. Superintendent Skinner said budget transfers and late‑year adjustments are common and offered to provide account-level mappings to reconcile Munis reports with the budget book. He told the committee the district had "managed…