Peabody School Committee unanimously advances revised anti-bullying policy to second reading

PEABODY — June 9, 2026 — Peabody School Committee gives unanimous first reading to revised anti-bullying policy honoring Jason Bernard. The committee voted 6-0 at its June 9 meeting at Higgins Middle School to advance Policy JICFB, which adds a written-reporting requirement for bullying allegations that goes beyond what state law mandates — a direct response to community concerns raised after a student's death. Mayor Ted Bettencourt announced that Representative Tom Walsh secured a $50,000 line item in House Bill H.5470, read into the Massachusetts legislative record in Bernard's name, directed to the Higgins Student Resource and Support Center. Peabody Promise representatives Maria Sherry and Sarah Grinnell reported 89 bullying investigations district-wide this school year, with 23 substantiated, and said the center had served 130 students in April alone with zero students on a wait list that month. The committee split 2-4 against an immediate first reading of a MassCore graduation requirement championed by Ms. Millman, instead referring it to the Quality and Standards Subcommittee ahead of an anticipated June 17 state announcement, with Superintendent Dr. Vidala warning that the class of 2030 had already been counseled into MassCore-aligned course selections.