Peabody P.R.E.P. Virtual Learning School Extended For 2023-24

PEABODY, MA — As the Peabody School Committee approved more than $665,000 in largely grant funding to extend the Peabody Personalized Remote Education Program — or Peabody P.R.E.P. — virtual learning school for a third year, there were many concerns raised about the practicality of extending the school once COVID-era funding runs out in 2024.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund money will be used next year to pay for the six full-time teaching positions, and other expenses, involved with running the school that Superintendent Josh Vadala said ended the year with 130 students — including 11 graduates — this month.

(Also on Patch: Peabody P.R.E.P. Shows Potential Of Post-Pandemic Virtual Learning)

But while School Committee members agreed that the option has become a benefit for the students who have chosen to use it, there are questions about where that funding comes from when — barring additional grants or state reimbursements — the cost will shift to the Peabody Public Schools general operating budget if the school is approved for 2024-25 and beyond.

"Definitely think there are bigger questions around next year's budget," Superintendent Josh Vadala allowed during Tuesday night's meeting. "This is the second year of this pilot, of this plan, and I would anticipate that we would do everything we can, if the program is working and supporting students, to continue the program with the least economic impact on the budget as possible."

School Committee member James Hochman, who said he voted against continuing the school on Tuesday with the understanding it had enough support to pass for next year, questioned the necessity of the school and the spending equity when 25 percent of the district's ESSER funding for 2023-24 will go toward a school that supports about 125 out of 6,000 students in the district.

Vadala said some changes to the school are coming for next year with the dropping of kindergarten through second grade because of limited enrollment. Students who enrolled in the school at its entry point at the start of the COVID-19 health crisis will be entering third grade next year.

He left open the option of further reducing the elementary school grade levels in the future as more and more students start their learning with in-person education.

"We are looking at class sizes and want to make sure it's sustainable," Vadala said.

Several students and their families provided video and in-person testimonials on behalf of the school during the June 13 School Committee meeting. The district has also worked out a memorandum of agreement with neighboring districts Beverly and Salem to have their students take Peabody P.R.E.P. classes — bringing in some revenue to the district — since those districts cannot offer a virtual academy.

Most of the students take core classes remotely together in small groups and do meet for occasional field trips — such as the Stone Zoo or the North Shore Children's Museum — to gain more social and emotional interaction.

"We are meeting the needs of kids," Vadala said. "That is the ultimate goal of this program.

"COVID has changed the community and we need to be thoughtful about the way we can help kids. Just because you can go on a field trip does not mean you can learn math (in a traditional classroom)."

Several School Committee members urged Vadala to begin exploring the financial implications of continuing the school and explore outside funding options early in the fall so the impact on the budget can be fully explored and debated ahead of any vote to extend Peabody P.R.E.P. into a fourth year next spring.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)