11Students will immediately begin to use classroom space in one renovated section of the school when freshmen report today and upperclassmen return tomorrow. The big transition takes place on Nov. 30, when students are scheduled to move into the new four-story academic building.
The move into the long-awaited new school is the biggest of several changes in store for Beverly Public Schools this year, which include a new superintendent in Marie Galinski.
"I think it's going to go pretty smoothly," Galinski said yesterday of the move to the new school. "We had a parent meeting last week to go over the changes, and we're going to keep communicating."
The $80 million high school project includes renovations of the current field house and auditorium and construction of an adjacent new academic building.
The current academic wings will be demolished, beginning with the Patten Wing in October.
Galinski, the former assistant superintendent, has taken over the top job from James Hayes, who retired and became superintendent in Newmarket, N.H. Maryellen Duffy, the former director of educational services for the Hamilton-Wenham schools, is the new assistant superintendent.
Galinski said the high school will begin the process of renewing its accreditation in October. The last time the high school sought accreditation 10 years ago, an unfavorable review for the poor condition of the building eventually led to the push to build a new school.
Budgets cuts earlier this year led to the layoff of the equivalent of 31 full-time positions in the schools. Galinski said 5.6 of those positions have been restored thanks to a surplus from last year's budget. The restored jobs include two middle school teachers, a high school teacher, an elementary school aide and a clerk.
Galinski also said five high school teachers will teach six classes instead of five and receive a stipend for the extra course. That is less expensive than hiring new teachers and helps decrease class sizes and eliminate study periods for students, she said.
The Beverly schools were recently awarded more than $750,000 in federal grant money under the Race to the Top and the Education Jobs Fund programs, but most likely it won't be used this school year, Galinski said.
Galinski said the Jobs Fund money might be used to keep special education and reading support positions that are being paid for with stimulus money that will expire next year.
The Race to the Top money is spread over four years and could be used to improve the middle school math program with professional development for teachers, Galinski said.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.
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