School Committee approves school choice seats for 2025–26; kindergarten allocation set for revisit

At its April 9 meeting the Beverly School Committee approved the number of nonresident "school choice" seats the district will offer for the 2025–26 school year, increasing openings for secondary grades while holding kindergarten at the current allocation for further review.

What the committee approved: After debate, the committee approved a configuration that sets 10 school choice seats per grade for grades 1–6, 15 seats per grade for grades 7–8, and 20 seats per grade for grades 9–12. The kindergarten allocation was left unchanged at 10 seats; committee members agreed to revisit the kindergarten number at the Committee‑of‑the‑Whole meeting on May 28.

How the vote moved: School Committee member Lorinda Visnick moved the initial proposal (which had proposed larger kindergarten openings); Doctor Jeffrey Silva seconded. Committee members discussed cohort sizes, classroom capacity, and fiscal considerations. An amendment to reduce the proposed kindergarten slots from 15 back to 10 was moved and carried on a 5–2 vote. The main motion as amended then passed by voice count (committee members recorded a 5–2 result in the meeting record).

Why it matters: School choice slots generate local revenue because the district bills the sending district or payscale set by the state for each nonresident student; the committee discussed school choice as a modest revenue source while weighing impacts on class sizes and special‑education caseloads. Committee members also noted that seats are filled via blind lottery when requests exceed openings and that sibling preference applies only where allowed. Committee members and district staff discussed timing and logistics: by state guidance committees must set seat counts by June 1 for the coming school year; the committee set a path to reconsider kindergarten on May 28 if registration trends shift.

Details and process notes: Presenters told the committee that kindergarten registration appeared lower than in recent years—roughly 40 vacant seats in kindergarten enrollment at the time of the meeting—and said some buildings had capacity. The committee debated whether to expand kindergarten openings now or hold steady until more enrollment data is available; members who opposed expansion cited concerns about concentration of new students in a single grade and current classroom/IEP pressures. Supporters of expansion cited community demand for seats and the benefits of offering choice to families who work in or move to Beverly.

Votes at a glance (formal outcomes recorded at the meeting): - Motion to set school choice seats (amended): PASSED, recorded 5 yes, 2 no. (Motion as amended sets K=10; grades 1–6=10 per grade; grades 7–8=15 per grade; grades 9–12=20 per grade.) - Amendment to reduce kindergarten from 15 to 10: PASSED, recorded 5 yes, 2 no.

Operational notes: The district said families must apply by the May 1 deadline for lottery consideration; lotteries are typically run in mid‑May and offers are made by June 1. The district confirmed that school choice students are not eligible for district‑provided transportation and that the base reimbursement for a school‑choice student is a standard state amount, with incremental adjustments if a choice student receives special‑education services.

What’s next: The committee directed staff to return to the May 28 Committee of the Whole with updated kindergarten enrollment information and, if appropriate, a revised seat recommendation before June 1.