Weather delays Lynn school board meeting

LYNN – The winter storm that swept through Lynn Thursday afternoon into Friday forced the postponement of all evening school activities in the city, including the last scheduled School Committee meeting of the year.Flakes began to fall shortly after 12:30 p.m. Thursday, and the streets were covered in a thick white coat not long after. The National Weather Service announced a heavy snow warning for the entire region, and soon after the city declared a snow ban effective at 6 p.m.While schools remained open until regularly scheduled hours, concerned parents began dismissing students around 1 p.m. Superintendent Nicholas Kostan canceled all nighttime events earlier in the day, rescheduling the School Committee meeting for Monday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m.On the docket for the meeting will be the negotiation and approval of a contract for newly hired Business Administrator Kevin McHugh.The committee selected McHugh as a replacement to the retiring Stephen Upton at its Nov. 29 meeting, but terms of a contract have not been set.Kostan said he also expects to hear a detailed report of a recent education Quality Assessment audit of the entire school department.More than a dozen EQA employees undertook a weeklong audit of the school department in October, visiting with parents, teachers and administrators, along with observing every school and administrative office.Kostan said he does not know the full detail of the reports, but early indications are that the EQA’s findings were positive, and the district is in good shape.Monday’s meeting will mark the last for committee members Daniel Cahill, who was recently elected to the City Council, and Arthur Fiste, who is retiring after losing a race for Ward 1 Councilor.Newcomers Maria Carrasco and Vincent Spirito will begin their terms when school returns from the holiday break.Other events canceled included a life skills dance for special needs students at the Marshall Middle School, and a brief graduation at North Shore Community College for students who completed a one-semester college training course. No decision has been made on the rescheduling of either event.