Peabody will close schools on election days

PEABODY – With the support of Superintendent Milton Burnett, the School Committee voted unanimously to close school on election days.Committee member Brandi Carpenter made the motion for early dismissal during the September state primary elections and complete closure during the November presidential elections.Burnett highly agreed with Carpenter, saying voter turnout is expected to be the strongest in years in November, increasing the need for safety precautions.”I have strong sentiments to close schools,” he told the Committee.During the state elections, he expects the turnout to be less, and will use the remainder of the day for professional development.Carpenter’s concern over the safety of school children during election days came after an 86-year-old man struck and pinned a young girl under his car while on his way to vote during the presidential primary in Randolph.Carpenter began thinking about her own experiences voting in Peabody and didn’t like what she saw. She noted cars parked in fire lanes, people driving against the normal traffic pattern of the school, and strangers coming and going without the need to sign in.After thinking about the issue even further, she voiced her opposition to sex offenders, who on a normal day wouldn’t be allowed near children, being able to walk in to the schools to vote. Police Chief Robert Champagne assured her that schools are never safer than on polling days due to the increase in police presence, but Carpenter wasn’t convinced.Although schools will be closed for the upcoming elections, Carpenter would still like to see sex offenders voting elsewhere.She made a motion to send a letter to legislators in support of a bill that “proposes that any Level 3 sex offenders would have to vote in the city clerk’s office.”The Committee voted unanimously in favor of that motion, as well.