The Beverly Public Schools’ Finance & Facilities committee voted April 30 to raise annual tuition for peer preschool students (children not on Individualized Education Programs) to $5,500, up from the current rate. The motion passed 4-0.

Assistant Superintendent/staff member Emma (presentation staff) told committee members the district last raised preschool tuition for the 2021–22 school year and that the preschool revolving fund supports preschool teachers’ and paraprofessionals’ salaries and benefits. She said the district offers need-based tuition reductions tied to the free and reduced-price lunch income guidelines and that roughly one-third of peer preschool participants receive tuition reduction.

Emma presented revenue context: for every $500 increase in annual tuition, the district would expect roughly $27,000 in additional collected revenues based on current enrollment trends. She also noted Massachusetts law requires that benefits charged to a revolving fund must include corresponding benefits, and she cited an example cost: a paraprofessional with family health insurance could cost the district roughly $67,000 in FY26 when benefits are counted.

Committee members debated the size and timing of the increase. Dr. Jeffrey Silva recommended a larger increase to $6,000; School Committee member Kimberly Coelho urged caution, noting that some families fall just above scholarship income cutoffs (the so-called “benefits cliff”) and that an immediate, large increase could harm those households. Coelho urged a phased approach to avoid forcing families to choose between preschool and basic household needs.

After discussion, Coelho moved — and Mister Manzo seconded — an amended motion to set preschool tuition at $5,500 and revisit the amount at a future date. The committee approved the amended motion 4-0. Members said the district’s sliding-scale reductions and the existing scholarship process would continue; staff and committee members asked district administrators to monitor take-up and hardship cases.

Discussion and clarifications in the meeting included:
- Tuition reductions are tied to federal free & reduced-price lunch income bands; the district uses tiered reductions (free, 75%, 50%, 25% reductions at various thresholds).
- The preschool program has rolling admission (children enter after their third birthday), so enrolled counts fluctuate during the year; the district currently expects about 80 peer preschool students at the start of the school year.
- The preschool revolving fund supports staff salaries; Emma recommended any fee increase be considered relative to staffing needs and sustainability.

The committee’s action was procedural: it sets the tuition to $5,500 and asks staff to monitor impact and report back. No changes to the district’s tuition-reduction eligibility guidelines were adopted at the meeting.

The Finance & Facilities committee recorded the motion and passed it 4-0; the committee also discussed holding the new fee steady for two years to reduce harm to families if possible.