BEVERLY — Superintendent James Hayes announced the Beverly Public School District is facing a $3 million budget gap next year.
"I won't sugarcoat: There are going to be some difficult decisions coming up," School Committee President Annemarie Cesa said.
Yet, despite the financial woes, most of last night's "An Evening of Accomplishments" held at Briscoe Middle School focused on the good things happening in the district.
Hayes, who is retiring in June, showed pictures of the inside of the new high school — scheduled to be ready to move into by Thanksgiving — and said he's had a terrific 11 years leading the district.
"I'll continue doing what I can to make sure next year is a terrific year for Beverly Public Schools," he said.
Assistant Superintendent Maria Galinski also gave an in-depth look at MCAS testing, and speakers touched on a number of different accomplishments — from a reduced high school dropout rate, to the sixth grade's Nature's Classroom field trip, to PTO fundraising — a total of $230,546 last year.
Teachers from all seven of the public schools also weighed in with some of the unique programs, events and achievements they've seen and been a part of in the last year.
Highlights included:
Ayers' Monday-morning meetings, where, among other things, the whole school learned the dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
"Round 'Em Up and Read" at Centerville, where Principal Carla Pressman, in the spirit of the Western theme, played sheriff and dressed up in a cowboy hat and boots; a thick, black mustache; and full chaps to encourage kids to read.
An intensive poetry-writing program at Cove.
North Beverly raising nearly $120,000 to build a boundless playground, designed to encourage children with special needs and disabilities to play with kids who have no physical disabilities.
Volunteers of Building a Better Briscoe coming together for a major landscaping project at the middle school.
Hannah implementing "Study Island," where students are involved in Web-based interactive lessons.
Staff writer Cate Lecuyer can be reached at clecuyer@salemnews.com
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