Beverly Teachers Union Opposes Mayor's Plan For State Money

BEVERLY, MA — A request by Mayor Mike Cahill to Beverly City Council to use $98,131 in state money to defray the costs of sending students to charter and other schools outside the district is being opposed by the union representing Beverly teachers. That money should go to "the children who attend Beverly's public schools, not those who choose to go elsewhere," Beverly Teachers Association president Julia Brotherton said in testimony to city council last week.

Beverly saw an increase in the costs in needs to pay for students to attend other districts after a slight increase in the number of students opting out of Beverly Schools. The money would come from the $1.1 million increase Beverly received in state education funding this fiscal year. The money is "paying the cost of educating these Beverly kids," Cahill said.

Cahill's request was scheduled to be heard by City Council's finance and facilities committee on Monday.