Superintendent backs off Santa ban

SAUGUS _ Superintendent Richard Langlois has backed off his plan to ban firefighters dressed as Santa Claus from visiting the town’s elementary schools, as they have for close to 50 years.Saugus firefighters have gone to the various elementary schools dressed as Santa Claus since 1962 to hand out coloring books and crayons to children.But after announcing Monday morning that Santa Claus was no longer allowed in any public schools, Langlois reversed his decision later in the day.Saugus Fire Chief James Blanchard called the original announcement a “slap in the face,” but said he was happy about Langlois’ reversal.?I was very disappointed and taken aback,” said Blanchard. “It’s something we’ve always done. I don’t see Santa as a religious symbol. It’ll continue this year and I think he made the right decision to continue it. It had a good outcome, this year at least.”Read the complete story in Tuesday’s Daily Item.