Saugus Good Friday a no go

SAUGUS-Good Friday has turned out a bad day for attendance at Saugus public schools, according to Superintendent Keith Manville.Manville told the School Committee that more than half of students district-wide took the holy day off, leaving classrooms and lunchrooms quite sparse.”Fifty-four percent of students were absent, only 46 percent came to school,” he said. “There were 33 teachers absent and about 12 other support, administrators or staff members.”Saugus is one of the few school systems in the area that keeps its doors open on Good Friday. Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant, Peabody, Marblehead, Revere and Lynnfield are all closed on the holy day that recognizes Christ’s crucifixion.Manville said the number of absentees was slightly higher this year but, in general, was not out of line compared to years past.”Our attendance on Good Friday is not good at all,” he quipped.Manville said when it was decided that the schools would remain open, an agreement was struck with the Clergy Association because of the religious importance the day represents to Christians. Under the agreement Manville said there is no testing conducted on Good Friday, no major homework assignments are given or are due and absences are considered authorized.”It’s a day with not a lot of new or formal education going on in the district,” he admitted.School Committee member William Leuci suggested simply closing the schools, and offered a motion that would make Good Friday a non-school day.”We know it’s not really a day of teaching,” he said.The idea was shot down, but not on merit.Committee member Wendy Reed said deciding to close the schools on a certain day would constitute establishing a new policy and any new policy must go to the Policy Sub Committee.A vote to send the motion to close on Good Friday to subcommittee passed 4-1 with Leuci opposed because he said he was already prepared to make the decision.Good Friday Absentees by schoolSchool #Students #Absent #Teachers absentLynnhurst 291 116 5Oaklandvale 249 89 2Veterans Memorial646 327 13Waybright 245 82 1Belmonte Middle School 752 500 5High School 825 509 7