Beverly School Committee Tightens Nepotism Policy, Approves Year-End Transfers

BEVERLY — June 24, 2020 — Beverly School Committee votes to close a nepotism loophole and reports a rare fiscal surplus. At its June 24 remote joint Finance and Facilities and Committee of the Whole meeting, the committee voted 4-1-1 to strike a grandfather clause from Policy BCB that had exempted employees already working in the district before a committee member or superintendent took their seat — meaning a resident whose relative works for Beverly schools may no longer seek a committee seat. Finance Director Jean Sherbourne reported that the district's independent audit returned no findings for fiscal year 2020 and projected a return of approximately $250,000 to the city's general fund, which he called "very unusual" in nine years on the job. The committee also unanimously approved more than $100,000 in year-end budget transfers and accepted roughly $37,000 in grants and gifts, including $14,600 from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and $8,950 from the Beverly Education Foundation.