001Good evening. The Lawrence Alliance for Education board meeting for November 18th will now come to order. The time is 6:15. Jenny, would you please take attendance? Dr. Dolores Kalaf, Edgar Deleon, Juano Matias, >> present. >> Maria Müller, >> present. >> Mayor Brian Deña, Chair Patricia Mariano, >> present. >> Um, student rep. Angel Dominguez, not here today. >> All right. Um, could we please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. There are no items for um for executive session. So, we'll move on to public participation. >> Board welcomes public comment. At this time, we will call people in the order they signed up. As
002you begin, please state your name and address for the record. Each person is permitted to speak for no more than two minutes. A bell will ring when you have 30 seconds remaining and again at the end of two minutes. I ask that you please respect the time limit. Mali 53 Chester Street. Good evening honorable members. We the citizen are united to support Lawrence teachers union. Lawrence public school with the impeccable leadership by honorable superintendent Ralph Guerrero. Moving forward, we must know the best teachers in the nation are teaching at Lawrence public school. We must pay the best compensation to our teachers so the other cities cannot take our teachers away. The teachers the true nation builder the hope of best future for the children of the Lawrence. Future of this great nation. Future of the
003Lawrence one city on the goal depend on whole world with the citizen support our teachers union the teachers who inspire the whole world the teachers who educate children of Lawrence Lawrence teachers you are number one because of your hard work because of your dedication the children of Lawrence have a bright future Lawrence always strong Lawrence always unite in this important academic year We pledged to support Lawrence teachers union. Great Nelson Mandela said the education indeed the most powerful weapon to change the world. This change is only possible if we support our teachers union. In this greatest nation of the whole world when the number one responsibility of every citizen is support teachers union we the laurentian number one champion in the nation in support of teachers and the union. Lawrence teachers proud of you because
004of your hard work because of your dedication. Lawrence will rise again. >> Thank you Mr. Molly. Um, has anyone else signed up for public participation? >> No, Pat. Nobody else. >> No one has. >> No, that was the only one. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, for my chair's report this evening, I'd like to um give an update on receiverhip and the commissioner's determination to name Dr. Lauren Woo as a receiver. At this time, I'd like to call on Dr. Woo for her remarks. Thank you, chair. Okay, I do have short remarks, but they are prepared. Um, good evening, Chair Mariano, Mayor DePena, board members, and members of the Lawrence community. My name is Lauren Woo and I'm deputy commissioner at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. As of tomorrow, I will take on the
005role of receiver of the Lawrence Public Schools. During my 12 years at the department, I've had the pleasure of working closely with Lawrence and its dedicated educators in my capacity as head of DESI's office of strategic transformation. I'm excited to take on the role of receiver and to work on behalf of the students and families in Lawrence and to support a thoughtful and phased in transition to local control. In 2018, the department began a gradual transition to local control by moving from an individual receiver, then Jeff Riley, to a receiver that was a board, the Lawrence Alliance for Education, the LE. The LE was a seven member appointed board comprising state and local educational leaders. In March of 2023, following Mayor Deena's inauguration, we announced that as a further step toward local control, the elected
006state delegation representing Lawrence would recommend individual to the commissioner for appointment to the excuse me to the LE. That brings us to today's membership of the board. I want to take this opportunity to thank the LE board for their service. Mayor DePena, Chair Mariano, Dolores Kaf, Edgar Deleon, Wana Matias, and Maria Mohler. Your service in this role has been invaluable to the Lawrence community, and we are grateful for your work. I want to give a special thank you to Chair Mariano, who has served on the board since its inception and continues to be such a strong pillar in the community. I also want to acknowledge the previous board members. Former mayor Dan Rivera, former chair John Connelly, former chair Vento Rodriguez, Jessica Andors, Arlene Garcia, Dr. Noami Custodia Laura, and Julia Seavario. These members laid
007a strong foundation for our ongoing work as a school district. Since the start of the LA's tenure as receiver in 2018, there have been many accomplishments. For example, the board provided steady leadership during the Marramac gas explosion in 2018 and through the CO 19 pandemic. In 2018, the board selected Cynthia Paris as superintendent and then in 2024, this board implemented a communitywide process and selected Ralph Carrero as the district's new superintendent. Since then, the board has worked closely with Superintendent Carrero to develop the district's strategic plan and the district-wide literacy plan. You have seen the district through multiple budget cycles and have ratified contracts with the district's 11 bargaining units. As we look forward, I remain grateful for your accomplishments and leadership. Last spring, the city of Lawrence decided to change its school committee structure.
008With that change, three members are now appointed by the city council. Three members are elected at large, and the mayor continues to serve as chair. The seven members of this newly configured school committee were sworn in in January. Congratulations to Chair Mayor DePena, Vice Chair Jessica Ramirez, Michael Armano, Donna Bertilino, Eli Quinanell, Jonathan Guzman, and Jesus Surio. The commissioner and I believe the best path forward for the district is to focus on a phased in transition to local control by working to build capacity of the newly configured school committee. As an individual receiver, I will be able to work with the school committee in a more streamlined way. My priorities as receiver are to provide direction on a capacity building plan for the school committee and engage them in rigorous training aligned to that plan.
009I will also supervise Superintendent Carrero on the continued implementation of the district's turnaround plan and districtwide strategic plan. My appointment as receiver does not change superintendent Carrerero's role as superintendent at which as which he remains responsible for the day-to-day operation of the district. In closing, I'm excited to be able to continue to the work to work on behalf of the students and families in Lawrence with Mayor Depia, elected officials, Superintendent Carrero, the LPS team, and the entire Lawrence community. Thank you and thank you to the board members for all your work serving on the LE. >> Thank you, Dr. Woo. Um our job this evening is to take three votes and um we'll begin that process um right away. Uh the first vote we have to take um involves the status of our partnership with
010the department of elementary and secondary education. I will now entertain a motion for the following. The vote would be that the Lawrence Alliance for Education and terminate by mutual agreement the memorandum of understanding between the LE and DESIE which established the LE as receiver for the Lawrence public schools. May I have a motion? >> So move second. >> Thank you. Um is there a second? Any discussion to follow? Seeing no further discussion, this will we'll call a roll call vote. I will ask um Jenny to call the role. >> One of Matias, >> yes. Maria Müller, >> yes. >> Mayor Brian Deñena, >> yes. >> Chair Pat Mariano, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Item two. Moving um to the second item. Having terminated theou, we now turn to the formal dissolution dis of
011the um corporation. I will entertain a motion for the following. The the vote would be that Lawrence Alliance for Education, Inc. be voluntarily dissolved by the pre by the prep preparation and precaution of the dissolution petition and other necessary documents on such terms as are um approved by the chair or its um attorney John M7 um or either of them individually to the office of the attorney general and the commission commonwealth of Massachusetts pursuant to Mass General uh laws um 180-11- AFC. May I have a motion to um accept this motion? So move. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing no further discussion, this um Jenny will call the roll call Matias. >> Yes. >> Maria Müller. >> Yes. >> Mayor Brian Deñena. >> Yes. Chair Pat Mariano.
012>> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. The next item is um to vote in favor of Oh, I'm sorry. The final motion authorizes specific individuals to execute the legal findings necessary to carry out the previous vote. I will read the the vote or the motion that the chair of the Lawrence Alliance for Education Inc. and its attorney John M. Stephen ask each authorized, empowered and directed in the name of Lawman's Alliance for Education, Inc. to execute and deliver any and all the documents to the office of the attorney general and may other regulatory agencies including but not limited to the Massachusetts secretary of the uh Commonwealth, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. May I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Seeing no further discussion,
013there'll be a roll call. Jenny, would you call the role? >> Jana Matias, >> yes. >> Maria Müller, >> yes. >> Mayor Brian Deña, >> yes. Chair Patricia Mariano. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. Um all necessary um actions regarding the dissolution have been authorized. I will now entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So move. >> Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All right, Jenny, would you call the role? >> One of Matias, >> yes. >> Maria Müller, >> yes. >> Mayor Brian Deñena, >> yes. >> Chair Patricia Mariano, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Um, we before we adjourn, I'd like to thank the members of the LA for their support throughout the years. Um, I think we've done a great job and we wish the Lawrence public schools
014and our new receiver, Dr. Woo, the best of luck. Could I have a motion to adjourn? >> So moved. >> Second. Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Just a huge thank you to you, Chair Chairwoman. You've you've gone above and beyond her, you know, heard it as as cattle. Made sure that we showed up and that things were getting done. So, you deserve a huge huge thank you, Pat. Um, and I personally want to make sure that I thank you personally for everything you did on behalf of our students. You've been dedicated for decades to Lauren students and we were lucky to have you leading the the the helm. So wishing you a speedy recovery and a profound thing. >> Thank you. Thank you ma very much. Um we were a great team and
015again we wish the best of luck to um Dr. Woo and um the new school board. Could I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Thank you. Um Jenny, please call the role. >> Matias, >> yes. >> Maria Müller, >> yes. >> Brian, Mayor Brian Deñena, >> Chair Patricia Mariano, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> We we are adjourned. Thank you very very much for participating. >> Thank you. Thank you everyone. Thank you Hana Matia. Thank you Mariano and thank you Maria. Thank you everyone for support you know this the city education. Uh it's it's not easy you know take a time uh and in your case in Wamati Maria volunteer time you know uh sacrifice time for families uh personal issue but uh it's a it's high honor for me service together
016to to the elo thank you both thank you everybody >> thank you mayor and best of luck we are adjourned >> and happy new here. Late, but happy new year.