John Coffey, the district’s interim facilities lead, updated the Beverly Public Schools Finance & Facilities committee April 30 on building and grounds work completed during the spring break and plans for the summer.

Coffey said crews completed delayed HVAC filter maintenance, repaired stadium bleachers and completed an LED lighting upgrade at seven district schools; the middle school was already LED-compliant. Coffey said the district replaced two‑, three‑ and four‑foot fluorescent fixtures with LED drivers and removed ballasts. He told the committee the district had completed energy assessments with National Grid.

Finance staff and committee members emphasized that the LED work was paid for with existing solar credits and not district operating funds. Committee members asked about expected savings; Coffey said the district expects energy and maintenance savings, “depending on the school, between $10,000 and $20,000.” At the meeting Emma added the average payback period on that investment is “about just shy of four years.”

Committee members asked about other summer priorities and Coffey described the district’s summer custodial program. The program brings students and part‑time staff into schools during summer to clear rooms and help custodial crews with heavy lifting ahead of waxing and carpet work. Coffey said the program has produced successful hires in the past — “I have a custodian who’s been here 15 years who came from that program” — and that the district plans to run the program on a smaller scale next summer to stay within budget.

Funding for the summer custodial program will come partly from the district’s appropriated budget and partly from supplemental grants such as the First Jobs program and the district’s partnerships with workforce programs (for example the ATTAIN program). Coffey said the ATTAIN program participants work roughly 20 hours per week and the program has been a “great way to vet custodians.”

Coffey’s presentation and staff answers to committee questions described routine and capital maintenance completed in April and set expectations for summer projects, energy savings and a modest, grant‑supplemented summer hiring plan.