Consultant will perform demographic studies on Peabody schools

PEABODY-In preparation for the possible reorganization of schools, the city will hire an outside consultant to perform a special demographic study of the district.School Committee member Mike Moutsoulas, chairman of the new Peabody Planning Committee, suggested hiring the consultant last week when he presented the results of the group?s first meeting.Moutsoulas said he believes that in order to truly prepare for the worst, the city must first know where its schools stand and what to expect in terms of future enrollment.He put two proposals before the Committee, one from the Merrimack Education Center and the other from the New England School Development Council (NESDEC).Merrimack Education Center?s study would conclude in approximately 45 days, after reviewing the most recent birth data available, interviewing city officials and school administrators, and incorporating current student enrollment data. The projected cost totaled $8,200.NESDEC?s study would expectedly take twice as long to complete, but cost the city almost $2,000 less at $6,250. NESDEC, too, included similar plans for analysis, but also explained their plans for a 10-year enrollment projection on a grade-by-grade basis, which would come with a detailed analysis of their findings.?We want to get accurate figures,” said Mayor Michael Bonfanti, who offered to share the cost with the city, if possible. He noted that current projections have proven to be inaccurate due to varying factors, such as changes in the economy and families simply having fewer children.Moutsoulas ultimately recommended hiring the not-for-profit NESDEC for the task and his fellow School Committee members unanimously supported his decision.Moutsoulas hopes to have the results of their findings before budget discussions in February.