School Committee Approves $6.7M Budget Hike, 5-4

School Committee · Meeting of May 20, 2026

Beverly's School Committee voted 5-4 to send City Council a $6,705,231 school budget increase, well above the $4.5 million Mayor Cahill had proposed. The committee first rejected the mayor's $4.5 million "balanced budget" 3-6, then a $6,242,513 compromise 4-5, before approving the larger figure that restores five teaching positions, including a cut fifth-grade teacher at the Hannah school. Superintendent Dr. Cushing said the district "squeezed every possible penny out" building the original plan.

Mayor Cahill warned the city has only about $4.5 million available, partly contingent on a proposed $400-plus trash fee increase. The committee separately voted 9-0 to hire Mullen, currently of Bedford Public Schools, as the district's new business administrator, succeeding Emma Puglisi.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• [01:01:45] — Superintendent Dr. Cushing
• [00:22:18] — Member Ducharme
• [01:17:55] — Mayor Cahill
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Beverly's community access TV: School Committee meeting, May 20, 2026
• The complete report: 906 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of May 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.