Beverly panel tables new online fundraising policy for further study

The Beverly School Committee’s Finance & Facilities subcommittee on Wednesday discussed a proposed new policy that would bring online crowdfunding and similar digital fundraising practices under district oversight but chose to table the measure for further study.

Emma Pugliese, the district’s director of finance, described the policy as a Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) model that clarifies how online donations and in-kind items would be treated if they were routed through district channels. “It makes clear that those donations are donations to the district and not to the employee,” Pugliese said, adding the policy helps distinguish district property from personal gifts and reduces potential conflicts of interest.

Members raised potential unintended effects. Kim Coelho and others warned that strict language could impede commonly used tools such as Amazon wish lists that parents use to support classrooms. Doctor Silva urged the committee to confirm whether the policy language is required by statute or is optional guidance; Pugliese said it reiterates state law in places but that some districts have chosen different approaches.

Several members recommended collecting examples from other districts to see whether they adopted the model as written or condensed it. Doctor Cushing, the superintendent, advised that boosters often operate as independent 501(c)(3) entities and that the district’s oversight varies depending on whether a group is internal or external.

The subcommittee voted 5–0 to table the policy and asked the chair to work with the superintendent and the director of finance to bring a recommendation back at a future meeting after additional stakeholder review.