Saugus to allocate $700G to schools

SAUGUS – The Board of Selectmen voted 4-0 Tuesday night to allocate $700,000 of last week’s $1.27 million one-time tax assessment to the school board, while allocating the rest to various town departments.Other appropriations include $150,000 for fire department overtime, $100,000 each for police overtime and the town group health plan, and $77,000 for the vocational school assessment.”I think the whole community came together and I think this is the right direction for us to go into giving the schools a little bit more money,” said Selectman Michael Serino. “The school department needs it up front and can’t wait until the budget process six months down the line. They’ve been doing a lot of good work in the schools? and I want to continue that process and move the schools forward.”The budget will now go before the Finance Committee tonight for further recommendations and then will come to a final vote at Town Meeting.If the budget holds up as is, Superintendent Richard Langlois’ three-tiered reduction plan will only reach into the first few sections of tier two, sparing the most severe cuts in tier three. The school will only need to cut $525,000 instead of the full $1.2 million called for in the plan.”We talked to all the people? and we wanted to show everybody that government works,” said Selectman Stephen Horlick. “If you have the confidence in doing this (voting for the tax assessment) then this is what we explained to everybody where the money was going to go. This is a good step for the future.”Tier one reductions include cuts to transportation, crossing guards and utilities along with one early childhood teacher and two elementary school teachers. Tier two cuts include supplies and instructional material as well as a building custodian and a special education teacher.In other business, the Board of Selectmen welcomed new Public Library Director Diane Wallace, who was approved by the selectmen in May.”I’m accumulating a list of questions and I’m just trying to get acclimated, so I’m sure we’ll be talking,” said Wallace as the selectmen one-bye-one welcomed her to town.”I’m glad that you’re here,” said Horlick. “The library had some programs that were cut? and we’re always looking for new programs. It’s great to have a director that can be full time and push the library forward for the next generation.”