OPINION: 'Do What Is Right' In Beverly Teacher Negotiations

This is a letter to the editor shared with Patch from Beverly resident Todd Ames.

To the editor:

Unlike School Committee President, Rachel Abell, and the Beverly School Committee's "Community Updates," I'd like to start off by being honest and transparent. My name is Todd Ames. I am an endlessly proud parent of two current Beverly Public School students and a fierce supporter of my wife, a teacher at Beverly Middle School. I write in support of our students, our educators, and our community.

I would like to focus on two quotes published in the most recent "Community Update" from Friday, September 13, 2024. The first being, "… the BTA made a presentation in lieu of a formal compensation offer indicating certain minimum wage benchmarks and expectations, which equate to an 8 percent increase for educators each year for the next three years. This represents an approximately $4.3 million increase beyond the District’s most recent compensation offer." The second being, "Our goal remains to provide our students a high-quality education that fits within our city's fiscal means."

Regarding the first quote, unsurprisingly, the context surrounding the BTA’s proposal was not provided. The proposed increases will align Beverly with surrounding communities and provide funds necessary for our educators to do their best work in the best environment possible. The outcomes are obvious. Great educators will come to our community. Great educators will stay in our community. Great educators support our students. Our community becomes better.

Regarding the second quote, the Beverly School Committee's proposal for entry-level salary for a teacher with a bachelor's degree is $48,131. Salem and Danvers offer $59,720 and $63,176, respectively.

Some members of the Beverly community may be thinking, "That’s odd. I could've sworn our district was much closer based on the Community Update." These numbers may not look familiar because in a "Community Update" dated August 19, 2024, School Committee President, Rachel Abell, compared Beverly's entry-level salary to other districts that are either in active negotiation or were on the verge of finalizing contracts.

This begs the question, why are surrounding communities able to provide these contracts within their fiscal means, but Beverly is not? I find this query to be particularly interesting given Paul Leighton’s article published in The Salem News online on May 8, 2024 entitled, "Cahill touts financial strength in State of City address." So, Mayor Cahill, clear this up for us. Which is it? Can we tout the financial strength of our city or do we not have the fiscal means to support our educators or our students in the same way as our surrounding communities? I think a lot of very concerned citizens would like to know.

The Beverly School Committee needs to shift their perspective from fiscal to moral. Do what other communities have done. Do what is right. Support our students, our educators, and our community now.

In closing, I'd like to share another quote, but this is not from School Committee President, Rachel Abell, or the Beverly School Committee or any "Community Update." This quote is from an old note I found while unpacking. A note written by a former student to my amazing wife that captures how special educators are and why all communities need to cherish them accordingly. “I wanted you to know that I’m grateful for your hard work and helping me grow. Thank you for your patience with me. Thank you for all the extra efforts and opportunities you have given us to make sure we had an amazing year ... I could come to you with anything. I'm so happy and grateful I got the chance to have you…"