Cuts threaten Saugus schools staff, programs

SAUGUS – A list of potentially deep cuts aimed at staff and programs in the Saugus school district were mulled over by School Committee members Thursday in an effort to level-fund the fiscal year 2012 budget.More than $1.2 million in cuts are on the table, which include special education expenses, athletic user fees and nine elementary, middle and high school teachers.?None of this is acceptable to us and it isn?t fair to the students of Saugus,” said Superintendent of Schools Richard Langlois. “Anyone who thinks there is some hidden treasure to remedy this? it isn?t there.”The proposed cuts are listed in three separate tiers – $420,000 in the first tier, $430,000 in the second and $375,000 in the third. In order to see what cuts are actually going to take place, the committee is anxiously awaiting a special town meeting vote, which, if approved by residents, would provide a one-time special assessment fund to bail them out.Although the proposed cuts are just being considered at this point, Langlois said there is the possibility that they will come to fruition if the money doesn?t arise from another source.?These cuts are truly painful,” he said. “I saw the expressions on the principals? faces because we?re talking about people who are 85 percent of our budget. We?re sitting here dismantling all the good that we?ve done. It?s a shame.”The school administration recommended a fiscal year 2012 budget of $27,278,909, which was approved by the School Committee and given to Town Manager Andrew Bisignani, who then recommended a level-funded budget of $25,010,250 for their approval.That amount, however, necessitates the school district?s need of a little over $1.6 million to meet a level of service for fiscal year 2012, with a minimum of $1,063,659 necessary to keep current staff and programs.If the cuts do take place, Langlois said they could compromise or even prohibit the district?s ability to comply with critical education needs, state and federal mandates, the district improvement plan, meet time on learning, capital improvement and Massachusetts Education Reform under the Race to the Top initiative.?This just gives us an idea of what could happen, but it?s just an idea right now,” said School Committee member William Leuci. “I think we should digest this for now and maybe we?ll hit the lottery in the meantime.”The next meeting will take place on May 26 at 5 p.m., with a regularly scheduled School Committee meeting at 7 p.m.