Beverly School Panel Approves BHS Course Changes, Adds Math Support Classes

BEVERLY -- February 3, 2021, Beverly's curriculum subcommittee unanimously approved Beverly High School course changes for 2021-22 and heard troubling enrollment trends in music and JROTC. The School Committee's Subcommittee on Curriculum, Instruction and Student Life voted 6-0 Wednesday to recommend the updated program of studies to the full School Committee, adding Algebra Essentials and Geometry Essentials support courses designed to address pandemic learning gaps, a new Wellness 11 semester course, and a World Cultures elective under the world languages department. Principal Betty Taylor noted that chorus enrollment at Beverly High has fallen from roughly 200 students five years ago to 42 this year, a trend she said predates COVID-19, and flagged that the Marine JROTC program's enrollment of 89 to 95 students falls below its contractual target of 100, potentially leaving it vulnerable if another New England district requests a new ROTC unit. Junior Virginia Betts was recognized as the school's nominee to the Massachusetts All-State Art program, and Library Media Specialist Alex Woznick received the Massachusetts Super Librarian Award from the Massachusetts School Library Association.