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Lowell School Committee advances large parts of proposed budget, creates $946,622 suspense account for personnel decisions
Summary
After hours of public comment urging restoration of counselors and fine‑arts staff, the Lowell School Committee approved most section bottom lines but set aside $946,622 in a suspense account to revisit several personnel changes and contracted‑services cuts.
The Lowell School Committee continued its public budget hearing April 8 in City Council chambers, hearing hours of testimony from students, teachers and residents before approving most of the superintendent’s proposed section totals while tabling others for additional review.
Dozens of public commenters urged the committee to restore student‑facing positions. "Reducing the number of school counselors at the FA from three to two will increase case loads from approximately 250 to over 400," said Jake Plof, a school counselor at the Lowell High School Freshman Academy, arguing the cut would reduce capacity to manage 504 plans and IEP work. Multiple students and community members also urged the committee to reinstate the fine‑arts department chair and music teachers, saying cuts would harm arts pathways and student opportunities.
Lowell High head of school Mr. Fiato responded to public feedback by recommending the committee reinstate the freshman‑academy counselor, a college‑and‑career counselor and to "reconsider the fine arts department chair and add back a music teacher." Superintendent Skinner framed the tradeoffs for the committee, saying the district will have more overall funding next year but that positions added with one‑time ESSER funds cannot all be sustained.
On motions and votes, the committee approved the superintendent’s recommended bottom‑line figures for several budget sections in roll‑call votes, including a school total motion earlier in the hearing. Members also moved to hold several items for further public notice and review: the clerk‑scheduler lines, several high‑school‑level staffing lines and major technology purchases. A motion to place the director of technology position "in obeyance" passed 4–2.
To allow time for follow‑up, the committee established a suspense account totaling $946,622: $746,622 was set aside to hold funds for student‑support positions at Lowell High School while the committee evaluates whether to restore them, and $200,000 was reduced from the special‑education contracted‑services line. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Amanda Dupont confirmed those adjustments and the committee recessed to continue the hearing the following Wednesday.
Staff said they will return with written details on late‑arriving proposals from the high school, itemized technology hardware/software/internet costs, a list of positions moved from grant funding into the operating budget, and fuller data on special‑education contracted services and transportation reimbursements. The committee agreed to revisit the suspended items after members and the public have had time to review the new materials.
