Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Committee Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: Beverly School Committee approves policies, warrants, gifts, transfers and grants
Summary
At its Jan. 8 regular meeting the Beverly School Committee approved warrants, two reviewed policies, gifts, a budget transfer and state/federal grants; the Curriculum Committee also moved a special-education policy to the full committee for two readings.
The Beverly School Committee held a regular meeting on Jan. 8 and approved a set of administrative and financial items, including warrants, two policies on a second reading, a collection of modest gifts, a budget transfer and state and federal grants.
In a separate Curriculum, Instruction and Student Life meeting earlier that evening, the committee voted to move policy IHB (Special Instructional Programs and Accommodations) — amended to use inclusive language (adding “guardian” and “caregiver”) — to the full School Committee for two readings. The Curriculum committee vote passed 8–0.
At the regular meeting the committee approved the following items (roll-call outcomes are recorded): warrants by consensus (vote 7–0); approval of Dec. 11 meeting minutes for the regular school committee (vote 6–0, 1 abstention); policy DIB (revolving accounts) on second reading (vote 7–0); policy EBCD (emergency closings) on second reading (vote 7–0); October–November 2024 gifts to schools totaling $530 (vote 7–0); budget transfer number 130 (vote 7–0); and other state and federal grants totaling $64,600 (vote 7–0).
Motions and outcomes recorded in the meeting transcript (summaries):
- Curriculum committee motion to forward policy IHB (Special Instructional Programs and Accommodations) to the School Committee for two readings with inclusive-language amendments. Mover: Rachel Abel (Curriculum committee member). Second: Karen Robinson. Outcome: Passed, 8–0.
- Regular meeting motion to approve the Dec. 11, 2024 regular-meeting minutes. Outcome: Approved by roll call, 6 yes, 0 no, 1 abstention (Mayor Mary Cahill abstained as she was not present at that meeting).
- Motion to approve warrants (items a–d as listed on agenda). Mover: Lorinda Visnick. Second: Mayor Mary Cahill. Outcome: Approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Motion to approve policy DIB (revolving accounts) for second reading and adoption. Mover: Lorinda Visnick (F&F chair). Outcome: Approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Motion to approve policy EBCD (emergency closings) for second reading and adoption. Mover: Lorinda Visnick (F&F chair). Outcome: Approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Motion to accept October–November 2024 gifts to schools (total $530). Mover: Lorinda Visnick. Outcome: Approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Motion to approve budget transfer #130. Outcome: Approved by roll call, 7–0.
- Motion to accept other state and federal grants totaling $64,600. Outcome: Approved by roll call, 7–0.
The committee recorded roll-call attendance repeatedly during votes; members recorded voting yes on the listed motions included: Kenan McKenzie DiFranza (chair), Rachel Abel, Karen Robinson, Jeffrey Silva, Lorinda Visnick (also spelled in packet as Biznick for some references), Kimberly Coelho, and others participating remotely or in-person. The transcript contains the roll-call lists for each vote.
No motions failed. The meeting concluded with the committee moving into executive session for contract strategy and personnel matters and not returning to open session.
Short-term next steps noted in the meeting: the Curriculum committee’s recommended language for IHB will be forwarded to the full School Committee for its two readings; the district will continue routine budget and operational work tied to the approved transfers and grants.
