John Mullady: A Champion for Beverly’s Public Schools

My Fellow Beverly Neighbors,

I am writing to enthusiastically endorse John Mullady for Beverly City Council At-Large!

I have long admired John’s thoughtful, principled leadership and his steadfast commitment to Beverly’s students and families. Having served on the Beverly School Committee, John understands firsthand the central role that strong public schools play in the health of our entire city. He has consistently been a voice for equity, for transparency, and for ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed.

In my own commentaries, I have written about the harsh reality facing Beverly’s schools: our city spends $18 million below the state average on a per pupil basis, and ranks in the lowest percentile across several key education metrics. These figures are not abstract – they translate into fewer teachers, larger class sizes, lower test scores, reduced services, and diminished opportunities for our children. Beverly cannot continue to fall behind. Our elected officials must step up to address this inequity, and John Mullady has shown he understands both the urgency of the challenge and the kind of leadership it will take to solve it.

John has made it clear that he wants to focus on an open and transparent budget process that begins with the needs of students, not an arbitrary number handed down from above. He recognizes that when we start with an artificial ceiling, it forces damaging cuts to core educational services. Instead, he calls for a process that works from the ground up, assessing what Beverly students truly need to thrive and then aligning city resources to meet those needs responsibly and sustainably.

John’s leadership on the School Committee showed us what effective advocacy looks like. He fought for students with special needs, pressed for clarity in school finances, and encouraged greater community engagement in decisions that affect our classrooms. These are the same qualities he will bring to the City Council. He will ensure that Beverly’s investments in education are grounded in fairness, transparency, and long-term vision.

Beyond education, John has been clear about his priorities for equity and inclusion across Beverly: expanding affordable housing options, preparing our city for the challenges of climate change, and making sure government works for all residents, not just a privileged few. His commitment to listening, learning, and leading with integrity is exactly what Beverly needs in this moment.

Beverly faces hard choices in the years ahead, but I am confident that John Mullady is the kind of leader who will make them responsibly and transparently, always with an eye toward protecting the city’s most important asset: its people.

I encourage all my fellow Beverly residents to join me in supporting John Mullady for City Council At-Large.

Sincerely,

Dr. Matthew C. Ferreira

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