News

Beverly mayor: Special election on tax override risks 'dividing a community'

By Paul Leighton
Staff writer
Published: April 15, 2008

BEVERLY — The closing of two elementary schools seems inevitable. Now it's just a matter of which ones and how soon.

That seemed to be the consensus of city and school officials who gathered last night at City Hall for a special meeting called by Mayor Bill Scanlon to discuss the budget crisis facing the city's schools.

"There is no way in our future that we're going to have six elementary schools functioning as we have now," School Committee President Annemarie Cesa said. "There is not another plan. We're still going to have four elementary schools."

Superintendent James Hayes has recommended closing Cove and McKeown schools and laying off 61 employees as a way to close a $2.5 million budget gap. Cove School would be converted to an early education center, and McKeown School would be used as an alternative secondary school for special education students.

Scanlon, in a 25-minute speech last night, essentially agreed with Hayes' "concept," but recommended forming a community group to study "which schools should be used for which purpose."

"This decision is bigger than any one person," Scanlon said in response to questions from city councilors after his speech.

Cesa said she would agree to a small "advisory committee" but disagreed with Scanlon's idea of a broader community group.

"Time is too short," she said. "We've been dealing with this data since January."

Cesa also disagreed with Scanlon's suggestion to include city councilors on a committee, saying the ultimate decision on a future course for the schools belongs to the School Committee.

"This is what we were elected to do," she told city councilors. "We don't come over to your side and talk about the trash fee."

Scanlon said the biggest objection that he has heard to Hayes' plan is its impact on class sizes. Class sizes would increase to as many as 30 in grades three, four and five. Scanlon said adding one teacher in each of those grades could reduce those numbers.

Scanlon said he is also worried about the demographic balance of the plan. Thirty-five percent of North Beverly Elementary School students would be on the free-and-reduced lunch program, as opposed to only 18 percent of students at Centerville School.

"We cannot have one building serve the bulk of at-risk students while other buildings serve few, if any, of those students," Scanlon said.

Ward 6 Councilor Judith Cronin said residents have asked if the city side of the budget is absorbing the same cuts as the schools. Scanlon said such departments as police, fire and public works are already operating on "tight" budgets. The Fire Department's ladder truck, he said, has been out of operation due to cost concerns.

"Over time, we have put most of our new money into the schools," Scanlon said. "We've kept the other side very tight."

The City Council last week approved a special election on June 3 for voters to decide on a Proposition 21/2 property tax override to help fund the schools. Scanlon said the cause is good, but such an election "carries the risk of dividing a community."

"It is certainly the bluntest form of self-government, whereby 51 percent of an electorate can impose its will on the other 49 percent," he said. "That can foster conflict, not community, and in these challenging times community is what we need most."

Scanlon said an override might delay the closing of schools, but the school budget cannot continue to grow at its current pace.

"Whether this year or next, we must address this, and Superintendent Hayes has proposed a way to do so," he said.