Peabody School Committee Approves Seven Policies, Splits on MassCore Graduation Requirement

PEABODY — June 24, 2026 — Peabody School Committee splits 2-3 on first reading of new graduation requirements policy as state MassCore debate dominates year-end meeting. The committee voted down a first reading of Policy IKF, the graduation requirements policy, with members Dunn, Olympio, and Amico opposing and members Millman and Cox in favor, though the item will return for further consideration. Superintendent Dr. Emmanuel Vidala told the committee the district is on track to meet MassCore requirements for the class of 2030 — a year ahead of the state's 2031 target — but said he shares "significant concerns" about the sustainability of the broader graduation council package, particularly end-of-course assessments he warned could arrive as an unfunded mandate. The committee unanimously approved seven policies on second reading and cleared approximately $1.41 million in warrants. Earlier in the meeting, four Higgins Middle School students — presenting petitions with more than 300 signatures gathered in under 24 hours — urged the committee to reverse a plan to reassign music teacher Mr. Every to the elementary level, a move tied to a new fine arts staffing restructuring under newly hired Fine Arts Director Mr. Vasconcelos.