Beverly School Finance Panel Approves $49,000 in Grants, Eyes Turf Project

BEVERLY -- March 22, 2023, Beverly School Committee's Finance and Facilities Subcommittee approved nearly $49,000 in state grants and heard a preview of a $130,000 synthetic turf proposal at Wednesday's meeting. The panel voted 5-0 on each of four grant actions: a $8,000 DESE genocide education planning grant (the first installment of a two-year, $40,000 award), a high-quality instructional materials grant for ELA curriculum support, and $8,785 in increases across four Title I and IDEA entitlement grants. Finance Director Jean Sherburne introduced new Assistant Director of Finance Stacy Bonsai and briefed the committee on a completed upgrade to the city's Munis accounting system. Buildings and Grounds Director Bob Shirelli, joining remotely, presented a preliminary plan to install synthetic turf in an approximately 11,720-square-foot middle school outdoor courtyard, funded from the building rental revolving account, with the initial exploratory quote at $130,000. Sherburne also disclosed that the homeless transportation contracted-services line holds just $333 unencumbered, signaling a likely budget transfer request at next month's meeting.