Beverly School Committee elects Visnick president, names subcommittees and sets policy-review charge

Lorenda Visnick was unanimously elected president of the Beverly School Committee at the organizational meeting called by Dr. Cushing. Member Kimberly Coelho nominated Visnick; the roll-call vote was 9–0 in favor.

Visnick, who joined the meeting remotely, accepted the gavel and opened by saying the committee is "united in our goal to do what's best for children," while acknowledging members will sometimes disagree. She asked for collegial debate and urged listening and learning across differences.

The committee also elected Lindsay Ducharme as vice president and Karen Robinson as secretary in unanimous votes. John Taylor nominated Ducharme for vice president; the roll-call vote on the slate was 9–0. A separate roll-call confirmed Robinson as secretary, also 9–0.

President Visnick announced subcommittee assignments intended to organize the committee's work over the coming months. She placed Kimberly Coelho, Karen Robinson and John Taylor on Finance & Facilities, with Coelho named chair; she and Mayor Cahill (as required by the rules) will chair Negotiations alongside Lindsay Ducharme; and she tentatively assigned herself, Madeline Lennox and Catherine Frost to chair and staff Curriculum work while final membership is decided.

Visnick charged the newly formed Policy Committee — named as Catherine Frost, Geraldine (Jerry) Cahill, Madeline Lennox and John Taylor with Cahill to chair — to review the committee's norms and protocols and bring a recommended, signable set forward to the full committee by February. "The very first directive is to look at the norms and protocols and bring them forward to a meeting for us all to discuss and vote and then sign," she said.

The president also described standing community-facing subcommittees and asked for volunteers: Be Healthy Beverly (a monthly citywide coalition focused on child health and grant coordination) and the Operational Sustainability Committee (quarterly, focused on curriculum and waste reduction). Catherine Cahill volunteered to serve on sustainability.

Following the organizational appointments, the committee discussed signature authority for warrants and oversight practices (see separate article). The meeting concluded after a unanimous roll-call adjournment.

The next regular meetings were announced for the 14th, with a curriculum committee meeting scheduled ahead of the full committee meeting. The committee also discussed training and a summer retreat to finalize committee assignments and build working norms.