Beverly Public Schools reviews federal, state and local funding while approving routine transfers and fee updates

Emma Pugliese, Beverly Public Schools director of finance, told the Finance and Facilities Subcommittee on Feb. 27 that the district’s recurring federal grant revenue has averaged about $2,500,000 per year over the last five years, while some pandemic-related funding (ESSER) has declined and will not reappear in the current budget year.

The summary, presented to the hybrid meeting, listed the district’s revenue streams as local tax dollars, state Chapter 70 aid, federal and state grants, school nutrition programs and various revolving funds. Pugliese said the district participates in school-based Medicaid claiming and “we do bring in about $450,000 a year into the city, through reimbursement claims,” money that appears on the city’s books rather than on the school operating statement.

Why it matters: The subcommittee’s review highlighted how the district blends one-time carryforward balances and recurring grants to balance the operating budget. Pugliese said the district has been drawing on reserves such as circuit breaker, school choice and revolving fund carryforwards to make up for reduced federal COVID relief funding. The committee discussed the implications if federal or state policies change for programs such as IDEA (special education), Perkins (CTE), Title I/II/III/IV and the state’s universal free meals policy.

District officials described how federal grants are restricted by allowable purposes and frequently come with a 27-month spending window; Pugliese noted “these are reimbursement based grants,” meaning the district incurs expense before drawing funds down. She also…