Saugus Santa-in-schools meeting draws Tea Partiers

SAUGUS – The Saugus School Committee voted 3-2 to refer discussion of its holiday and celebrations policy to the policy subcommittee, after more than 60 residents packed the conference room Thursday night in response to last month?s Santa Claus controversy.School Committee members Arthur Grabowski and Joe Malone voted against the motion, and Grabowski made a substitute motion to add Santa Claus to a list of secular figures that would be allowed in schools. That motion was voted down 3-2, with School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed, Vice-Chairman Corinne Riley and Rick Doucette voting against it.?As far as I?m concerned, I have enough information in front of me and enough research,” said Grabowski. “I think it?s imperative to make a decision tonight. Although it?s interesting to see what other communities do, this is Saugus. We make our policy for our Saugus kids.”Superintendent Richard Langlois garnered national media attention in the week leading up to Christmas after he initially decided to end a nearly 50-year tradition of Saugus firefighters dressing as Santa Claus and handing out coloring books at the town?s elementary schools. While Langlois reversed his decision later in the day, residents packed the School Committee room Thursday and about a dozen voiced their anger with the decision.Christopher Peatridge?s message to the School Committee was simple:?Common sense, not political correctness,” said Peatridge. “People are upset that common sense did not prevail.”The school?s “ceremonies and observances” policy states, “While it is recognized that many activities are initiated with the approach of major holidays? Care should be taken to relate only to secular aspects of these holidays.”During a brief recess, Langlois said his opinion is “irrelevant” as to whether or not Santa Claus is a secular figure, noting that it?s the decision of the School Committee.?As one of their primary responsibilities, they listen to the community and if they want to revisit the policy and change, they?re welcome to do that and they should do that,” said Langlois. “My job is to carry out the policy. There?s a policy and it?s a standard policy across the commonwealth pretty much and it?s defined by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. If (the School Committee) wants to define secular, they can do that; right now, it doesn?t define that.”Langlois acknowledged that his initial decision wasn?t popular, and said he was just following the “language of the policy.”Before the meeting, around 10 people held a small rally outside the school district building, including several members of the North Shore Tea Party.Saugus resident Carlos Hernandez, who heads the North Shore Tea Party, braved the rain and wind to get his message across.?Stop the nonsense,” said Hernandez as he held the red-and-white-striped First Navy Jack with a snake and “Don?t Tread on Me” emblazoned on it. “Was Santa Claus doing something wrong? Is giving a gift to a kid that lights up their face a bad thing? When are we going to stop trying to change everything this country was founded on? Our history is being erased and that?s the problem.”Tea Partier Jim Morose said he came to show some solidarity for a 50-year-old tradition.?It?s a tradition that the town has been doing for 50 years and all of a sudden it?s not a good thing,” said Morose. “It doesn?t make sense. It?s kind of silly. I don?t think anyone has really been injured by Santa over these last 50 years.”Morose said the Tea Party took up the issue because it supports community values.Saugus resident Christine Moreschi said she was “shocked” when she first heard Langlois intended to prevent Santa Claus from going to the schools, especially since her father was one of the Saugus firefighters who helped start the tradition.?This is something my father and firemen brothers started in the ?60s when I was younger and it?s been going on ever since,” said Moreschi, who has a third- and fifth-grader. “I don?t see who it?s