Superintendent Dr. Sue Chorochak presented Beverly Public Schools’ draft FY26 appropriated budget to the School Committee of the Whole April 30 and asked the committee to publish the budget book ahead of the public hearing. The Committee voted 7-0 to publish the draft for public review.

Chorochak said the draft budget reflects a requested city contribution of roughly $69,000,007 and a proposed Chapter 70 state aid figure of about $15,000,007, yielding a total draft appropriated budget of roughly $85,000,004. She described the request as a 9 percent increase over FY25 that is driven largely by personnel costs, benefits, and the need to sustain service levels after pandemic‑era staffing and ESSER investments.

Key elements in the draft budget presented to the committee:
- Staffing and vacancy management: the district has roughly 13.1 vacant FTEs and is accounting for retirements and attrition; Chorochak said many proposed reductions come from attrition or currently vacant positions rather than active layoffs.
- Central office reorganization: with anticipated retirements in central office leadership, the draft reduces one central office FTE and redistributes responsibilities among remaining leaders.
- Reallocation to interventions: the district plans to shift some elementary coaching positions into intervention roles to strengthen MTSS and academic supports in buildings.
- Elementary libraries: the draft includes a $69,000 set‑aside to evaluate options for K–8 library support after an upcoming mid‑year librarian retirement.
- Benefits and other costs: the “other instruction” cost center includes a 10 percent health insurance increase (approximately $1.1 million) and a $500,000 lane‑change reserve for anticipated teacher lane adjustments.
- Special education and preschool: the budget continues offsets from circuit breaker, grants and revolving funds; the draft adds a coaching‑style position to support staff in AIM/ATTAIN self‑contained programs and proposes staffing changes for the preschool program (including an added therapeutic support position) while noting rolling admissions.

Chorochak and finance staff (Emma and Finance Director Pamela Puglisi were present) walked committee members through building‑level changes, offsets from building revolving funds and grant sources, and the district’s approach to preserving service levels while matching staffing to projected enrollment.

Committee members asked about downside risk if state Chapter 70 aid is lower than the House ways and means number the district used. Chorochak acknowledged that final Chapter 70 numbers will not be set until June and said the district maintains contingency plans; members pressed staff to be ready to present adjustments if state or federal funding changes.

The Committee voted 7-0 to publish the draft budget book and to schedule a public hearing; Chorochak said the budget publication will precede the public hearing and the formal committee vote on an appropriation after public comment and any necessary revisions.