Beverly Superintendent Backs Off $1K Hockey Fee Amid Budget Crunch

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Superintendent Peter Cushing told the School Committee he is rescinding his proposal to raise hockey athletic fees more than 200 percent — from $315 to $1,000 per season — as part of his "balanced budget" request of a 4.5 percent budget increase overall for the next fiscal year.

Cushing allowed that his original increase specifically for hockey — which bears the weight of escalating ice time fees — was a "shock to the system" to parents of prospective players. He told the School Committee on Wednesday that while he "stands by" his original request for the special hockey category, he was now requesting that hockey and football players be charged the same "tier 1" $350 fee — in line with the 10 percent increase for all sports.

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"We need to have a robust conversation around fees and not just athletics," he said. "I want to be clear that I stand by the thousand-dollar increase for hockey. I understand how people feel about that. But the cost of some of our sports really needs to be looked at vs. how we are considering interscholastic athletics as part of our district program. ...

"I know the benefits of athletics. But I have heard from parents about the need for reading intervention, special education, and kindergarten paraprofessionals."

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He said athletics cost about $900,000 per year, with a revenue of $200,000 — with the remainder paid for under the operating budget.

The reduced fee increase was part of his proposed $4.5 million "balance budget" request that he said is a 5.27 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2026 and will result in the equivalent loss of two full-time positions district-wide.

He said that the budget is less than the "level service" budget, which would be a 6.77 percent increase, and the "critical needs" budget, which would be a 7.14 percent increase, adding 12 positions.

"This budget addresses critical needs while making some tough and difficult decisions," he said.

Cushing defended the district's curriculum director positions against those who suggested that any cuts should avoid "student-facing positions."

"It is critical to realize that every position in a district this size is a student-facing position," he said, adding that the superintendent is "the least student-facing position (in the district)."

He said the curriculum directors are critical to ensuring equity and continuity of learning across the district, teacher development, improving test scores, and addressing complex discipline issues in a state-mandated fashion.

"Our district is very thin when it comes to leadership positions," he said. "We are thin in a lot of places. But we are very thin in leadership."