Beverly City Council Rejects Mayor's School Spending Plan

BEVERLY, MA — City Council unanimously rejected a proposal by Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill to use $98,131 in state funding to defray the cost of to send students to charter schools and other schools outside the district. Monday night's vote came after the union representing teachers in Beverly had raised concerns over using a portion of the $1.1 million in additional state funding to cover the costs, which rose this year.

In separate votes, city council approved appropriating $222,700 in state education funding to Beverly Public Schools and that an additional $98,131 also go to our schools, following receipt of that proposal by the Mayor. The votes came after a hearing in which teachers, school committee members and Superintendent Suzanne M. Charochak argued that the state gave the additional money to Beverly because it has more high need students than in the past.

"From the start, I was of the opinion that all additional Chapter 70 money should go to our public schools, as opposed to having a portion held over to pay choice and charter bills (items that are budgeted on the City side of the budget as opposed to the School side), so I was pleased to be able to add my voice and my vote to help make this happen tonight," At-Large City Councilor Julie Flowers said in a Facebook post after the vote.

Previously on Patch: Beverly Teachers Union Opposes Mayor's Plan For State Money