The School Committee unanimously voted to approve a fiscal year 2025 school budget of $94,577,540 at a budget hearing Monday night. The committee was able to hit its budget target after a series of past meetings in which it reduced unfilled positions and found other funding sources for certain budget line items. In comparison, the FY24 total budget was $93,099,671. The FY25 … [Read more...] about School Committee approves $94M school budget for FY25
Ted Bettencourt
Peabody’s International Festival set for Sept. 15
Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. announced that the 39th Annual International Festival will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Peabody. The rain date this year is Sunday, Sept. 22. “The International Festival is Peabody’s signature community event and the biggest party on the North Shore,” Bettencourt said. “It is a wonderful opportunity … [Read more...] about Peabody’s International Festival set for Sept. 15
City Council approves police, fire overtime
The Peabody City Council unanimously voted to approve the transfer of funds requested by Mayor Ted Bettencourt to fund fire and police overtime. Ward 2 City Councilor Peter McGinn said that $780,000 will be covering fire overtime and a fund of $700,000 will be going for police overtime. McGinn said that Mayor Bettencourt is concerned about the current situation and that … [Read more...] about City Council approves police, fire overtime
Local families receive Medal of Fidelity
City officials handed 25 Medals of Fidelity from the Commonwealth to family members of fallen veterans to honor those who made it home from war but died of war-related causes, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and exposure to Agent Orange, contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, toxic burn pits, or radiation. Mayor Ted Bettencourt acknowledged the sacrifices made and … [Read more...] about Local families receive Medal of Fidelity
School officials work on reducing operating costs as ESSER funds expire and state aid decreases
Members of the Peabody School Committee, Mayor Ted Bettencourt, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala recently convened for an FY25 school budget meeting at Higgins Middle School, to talk about needed reductions in operating costs and propose changes to funding sources, to adjust to significant decreases in state aid and the expiration of Elementary and Secondary School … [Read more...] about School officials work on reducing operating costs as ESSER funds expire and state aid decreases