Fully Funding Peabody Public Schools

George Peabody

According to our city’s namesake, George Peabody, education is a debt owed by the present generation to the future. We couldn’t agree more. In Massachusetts, we have a legal right to an education. When John Adams and the rest put that right in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there were important and practical reasons to do so. The fact of the matter is, when you have a government dedicated to rule by the People, public education is necessary. First, literacy simply makes the project of self-government easier. Citizens are less likely to be tricked by a scammer or won over by a demagogue. Second, it is important that through a public education, free people generally obtain what the Massachusetts Constitution calls, the “wisdom, and knowledge, as well as virtue” that is necessary to defend their liberty and rights.  

John Adams, Second President and primary author of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

This is why public education is one of the most important functions of a municipal government. Public education is the “great equalizer” when run well (and a hole to throw money into when it is not). In Peabody, our schools face all the challenges of a big city while admirably striving to create a sense of community. Still, we are affected by national trends – trust in educational leaders is at a low, there is a rise in childhood mental health concerns, and education costs are up while funding fails to keep pace.

According to the MA Department of Education, the “Total Expenditures per Pupil” in Peabody was about $18,874 in 2023. Now, that sounds like a lot – but when you look at the other 397 school districts in Massachusetts, Peabody is pretty far down the list. There are about 280 school districts that spend more per pupil than Peabody does. There are only about 110 school districts that are spending less.

On average, school districts are spending around $21,700 per pupil – with Peabody spending about $3000 less. Cities like Salem and Swampscott spend around $24,180 and $23.310, about $4500 to $5300 more per student than currently spent by Peabody.

On average, school districts are providing more resources to their schools per student than Peabody is. That means our students get less. Meanwhile, it costs parents $325 per year to put their kids on a school bus ($650 if they have more than one kid) and those who cannot afford it choke our streets twice a day every school day. Teachers and educators are begging parents to provide school supplies and are not being appropriately compensated for the valuable role they fill in our city. Our students face bullying and mental health concerns that schools lack the resources to address.

In the end, despite the fact that working families and educators are supplementing our education budget, the lack of adequate funding is harming the educational experience of our students.

This is unfair and must change.

As we call for increased funding, we also want to provide some possible sources – these are just a few:

Cannabis: Peabody passed a prohibition on the sale of cannabis products within the city shortly after it was legalized state-wide. As a result, Peabody has literally lost out on millions of dollars while cities like Salem pull in hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. We cannot continue to leave this money on the table. It is long past time Peabody repeal it’s ludicrous and illogical cannabis prohibition. It does nothing but deny our city sorely needed revenue. Let’s negotiate some host agreements and start to get competitive for this industry.

Grow Downtown: If our downtown business are successful and draw people from outside our city, we reap the benefit. And, we do not need to necessarily raise taxes to see that benefit. If the taxbase grows downtown, so do tax revenues. If we allow businesses to stay open later, implement traffic control measures, and use our zoning authority the right way, we can make it easier for our downtown businesses to succeed and attract new customers to the city.

Tax the Rich: It would be dishonest to discuss education funding and to not mention tax policy. According to Tristan, “My tax policy is that tax raises are always disfavored and always the last resort. When you do have to consider tax increases, you always target the rich first and then work your way down.” We should also be ready to get creative with how we shape our local taxes so that those at the top pay their fair share. This could mean differential rates, looking at our excise tax power, and finding other ways to use the tools that are already at our disposal. But, again, the aim is always to find other efficiencies or revenue first.

If you have other ideas, please let our campaign know. For us, it is not a question of whether we should increase education funding if we can find the funds. Instead, it is a question of how much can we increase it and where are we going to find the funds. Tristan is committed to finding new sources of funding and increasing the funds available to pay teachers, improve facilities, and provide buses to students. You can contact Tristan directly at Tristan@planforpeabody.com.

            And, make sure you to vote November 4, 2025.