School committee adopts updated fundraising, facility-use and student-fundraising policies after implementation concerns

The Beverly School Committee on Wednesday advanced and, where scheduled for final action, approved several policies intended to clarify fundraising, community use of facilities and student fundraising.

Members discussed KBE (relations with parent/booster organizations), JP (gifts/exchanges) and KHA (fundraising procedures adapted from MASC templates). Multiple members pressed administrators about implementation and liability: some questioned language that would require the district to obtain proof of a PTO or booster club’s 501(c)(3) status; others asked how the district would educate external organizations about raffles and games-of-chance rules. Administration said the policy language is largely standard MASC template language and clarified the district’s plan to meet with PTOs and boosters to communicate expectations.

Board members emphasized clearer, centralized communications for booster and coach contacts. Karen Robinson asked for a single slideshow or a mandatory preseason meeting to ensure all coaches, boosters and PTO leaders receive the same guidance; Superintendent Cushing said he would meet with booster club leadership and delegate implementation to building administrators and the athletics director as appropriate.

The policies that were on second reading (including KHA, KF and JJE) were adopted on the floor by recorded votes (noted in the minutes as passing unanimously where recorded). Committee members said they want staff to follow up with concrete implementation steps — including an athletics/boosters meeting and consolidated materials for coaches and parent leaders — to make compliance more consistent across sports and schools.