Proposed Peabody School Budget Cuts 80 Jobs

PEABODY, MA — Peabody Public Schools would eliminate as many as 80 positions in a $74.8 million budget proposal presented to the school committee Wednesday night.

But the budget is "very much in flux" said Mayor Ted Bettencourt, who also chairs the school committee. "Our work on the budget is not going to be done tonight or next week."

The uncertainty stems from the fact that the state has yet to tell local communities how much they can expect in state education aide. In a typical year, the city gets around $21 million. But the coronavirus crisis has made 2020 anything but typical, and Peabody finance officials drafted the school budget with a projection that state aide would be cut by 15 percent.

Related stories on Peabody Patch:

• Peabody Schools May Need To Spend $95,000 Per Week On PPE
• Peabody Mayor Expects Layoffs, Service Cuts In Budget

In addition to the 80 positions cut in the budget, 12 custodian positions would be moved to the city's facilities department to save the school system $2.5 million. Most of the 80 positions that are being cut are paid by grants.

"We tried to [eliminate positions] through retirements and attrition as best as possible," incoming Superintendent Josh Vadala said.

Dave Copeland covers Peabody and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).