The Beverly Public Schools School Committee held a budget hearing on May 22, 2025, addressing significant challenges related to staff absences and the need for more substitute teachers. The meeting highlighted the pressing issue of high absenteeism rates, particularly on days when the number of absent staff exceeded 50, leading to operational difficulties in covering classrooms.

Committee members discussed the impact of these absences on both students and staff, emphasizing the strain it places on the educational environment. One member expressed frustration over the inability to manage these spikes in absenteeism, noting that recent data indicated over 130 staff members were out on a particularly challenging day. The discussion pointed to a need for a root cause analysis to understand the reasons behind these spikes and to develop strategies to mitigate them.

The committee acknowledged that personal days taken by staff, especially towards the end of the school year, contribute to the high absence rates. It was noted that 40 personal days were taken on one day alone, which is within the contractual rights of teachers. Despite these challenges, the commitment of teachers to support one another during staffing shortages was praised.

To address the ongoing issue, the committee proposed increasing the number of daily substitutes to at least 60 and exploring ways to attract more individuals to the substitute list. This includes targeting potential substitutes who may prefer working at the middle and high school levels, as many current substitutes are primarily focused on elementary education.

The meeting concluded with a recognition of the need for ongoing efforts to recruit substitutes and a hope that absenteeism rates would stabilize as the school year progresses. The committee remains committed to finding solutions that ensure a consistent and supportive learning environment for all students.