Beverly School Committee eyes May 11 vote on $69.4 million FY23 budget

BEVERLY — April 27, 2022 — Beverly School Committee previews a $69.4 million FY23 budget and hears a full City Connects rollout plan. Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Charochek told the Committee of the Whole on April 27 that the proposed budget of $69,359,898 includes a request for $1.4 million in additional city appropriation — a 2.17 percent increase over the prior year's contribution — on top of anticipated Chapter 70 state aid of $13,158,441. Charochek also announced that Caitlyn Bellezza, currently the district's English learner director, will become the new City Connects program manager, overseeing building-level student-support coordinators; the City Connects technology platform costs roughly $10,000 or less per school per year. Committee member Leann Visnick pressed for more city-side financial context before a vote, but the committee reached informal consensus to place the budget vote on the May 11 public hearing agenda, with Finance Director Gene Sherburne required to publish the full budget book publicly by May 9. The Finance and Facilities standing committee earlier the same evening approved $25,250 in Massachusetts Cultural Council grants and $1,250 in gifts to schools, each by 5-0 votes.