Beverly school committee appoints Peter Cushing as superintendent, 5-2, subject to contract

The Beverly Public Schools School Committee voted 5-2 on April 17 to appoint Dr. Peter Cushing as superintendent, subject to the successful negotiation and signing of an employment contract.

The vote followed more than two hours of committee remarks that ranged from praise for both finalists to deep concern about community divisions, recent labor disputes and the district's budget constraints. Committee member Miss Robinson made the motion to appoint Dr. Cushing; School Committee President Rachel Abel later told the public that she had reached Dr. Cushing by phone and he was "so excited for the opportunity." The committee moved into executive session afterward to begin contract negotiations.

Committee members said the decision was informed by the candidates' interviews, the screening committee's work and stakeholder feedback. Several members argued for hiring an experienced interim to let tensions settle; others said a permanent hire with strong listening and relationship skills would better enable healing. "I walked away from that meeting feeling comfortable, with him as the leader or the leader of the school district and my top choice," said Doctor Silva, speaking of Dr. Cushing. "He has his eyes wide open and will be receptive to stakeholder input," School Committee President Rachel Abel added as committee members debated next steps.

The motion on the table read, in part, that the committee would "appoint Doctor Peter Cushing as superintendent of schools subject to the successful negotiation of a contract of employment mutually agreeable to the candidate and the school committee and signed by both parties or their designees." The committee initially voted 4-3 in favor; after a motion to reconsider carried, the committee reconvened and approved the appointment 5-2. The record presented counts for the two rounds of voting but did not list individual roll-call votes for the appointment itself.

Before adjourning to closed session, President Abel moved that the committee meet in executive session "pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 30A, section 21(a), for purpose 3" (to discuss strategy and preparation for collective bargaining related to an individual contract). A roll-call vote on that motion was recorded in open session with all named members voting yes, and the committee stated it would not return to open session that night.

Members emphasized the extent of the district's challenges — a strained relationship among educators, leadership and the community; recent strike activity; and local budget pressures — and framed the appointment as the start of a longer process of rebuilding trust. Several members noted a letter from a third-grade class that favored Dr. Cushing after his visit, and multiple members praised the screening committee and the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) for supporting the process.

The committee did not set a public timetable for completing contract negotiations and said the details would be discussed in executive session. The committee also discussed but did not approve a plan to appoint an interim superintendent; some members said an experienced interim could provide a buffer while community healing continued, while others said waiting would prolong uncertainty for students and staff.

With the appointment contingent on a mutually agreed contract, the committee's next public step will depend on whether a deal is reached and signed. The committee entered executive session to begin bargaining and announced it would not return to open session that evening.