Beverly Can Not Afford More Cuts: We Need Gerrie Cahill’s Leadership

Dear Beverly Friends and Neighbors,

I am writing to endorse Gerrie Cahill for Beverly School Committee, and to share why her leadership is so important at this moment.

Gerrie brings something that has been missing from the committee for too long: real, hands-on experience in schools. She understands the daily challenges students, families, and staff face, and she knows how decisions made in City Hall and at the committee table ripple directly into our classrooms. Her perspective is grounded in the lived realities of our schools, not in abstractions, political posturing, or scripted talking points from a public relations firm. Beverly deserves leaders who see the impact of policy not just on balance sheets, but on children’s lives.

The challenges facing our schools are stark. Our district spends $18 million less than the state average on a per-pupil basis. In just two years, we have been forced to cut 50 school positions, including 29.62 staff reductions in the FY26 budget alone, and faced a $2.67 million reduction below a level-services budget. These are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They translate into larger class sizes, fewer supports, more behavior issues, lower test scores, and diminished opportunities for our children. Nearly half of Beverly’s students are not meeting grade-level proficiency; a reality that cannot be brushed aside or explained away.

Too often, the public conversation has been framed around protecting tax rates or celebrating a so-called “return on investment.” But what good is an ROI if most of our children are falling behind? Gerrie believes, as I do, that the School Committee must not take the easy way out by accepting an arbitrary number handed down by the Mayor. Leadership means beginning with student needs, building a budget honestly from the ground up, and then advocating for the resources required to meet those needs. Anything less is a disservice to Beverly’s children and families.

Gerrie Cahill offers a different approach. An approach grounded in transparency, advocacy, and a student-first vision. She will not minimize the challenges or hide behind comfortable narratives. Instead, she will do the hard work of listening, engaging with the community, and fighting for the supports our schools need to thrive. Most importantly, Gerrie understands that restoring trust between families, educators, and the School Committee is essential if Beverly is to move forward.

I urge my fellow residents in Wards 1, 2, and 3 to vote for Gerrie Cahill for Beverly School Committee. With her experience, her integrity, and her unwavering commitment to students, she represents the kind of leadership our schools and our community need today and for the future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Matthew C. Ferreira

Beverly resident and Associate Superintendent for School Administrative Unit 21 (serving five communities on the NH seacoast)