Lowell School Committee cuts $400,000 to restore three dropped student support positions

LOWELL — May 6, 2026 — Lowell School Committee voted unanimously to cut $400,000 across three budget lines to restore three Student Support Specialist positions at Lowell High School, deferring the final FY27 budget vote to a special meeting May 11. Mayor Gitschier moved to reduce $52,000 from a part-time technician line, $100,000 from a prior-year expense reserve, and $248,000 from a budget reconciliation line, after a tense debate in which multiple members said they believed a prior April 22 vote had already restored six specialist positions — not the three that appeared in the proposed budget. Superintendent Liam Skinner explained that three of the original six suspense-account positions had been traded away to fund reinstatement of a Fine Arts Chair and a music teacher at the high school, leaving only three positions available. "We clearly restored these six positions according to the vote last meeting," said committee member Danielle McFadden. Four Robinson Middle School students also addressed the committee, citing survey data that 47 percent of Lowell middle schoolers say drugs are a problem and 56 percent flag mental health as a major concern; enrollment counselor Rose Mendonca urged the committee to preserve a Lowell High enrollment counselor position she said handled 465 new student enrollments this year alone.