Saugus principals present wish lists

SAUGUS – Principals from Saugus? four elementary schools laid out their needs for next school year Wednesday night, as they along with the School Committee and the superintendent met for the second night in a row to discuss the school budget for 2013.One area of consensus for all four principals was a need for a curriculum coordinator for grades K through 5.?It?s really important that we all remain on the same page,” said Linda Arsenault, principal of the Waybright Elementary School. “The difficult part is we?re all running buildings and wear different hats. If we could have a common person ? with a curriculum coordinator to keep all of us and all of our teachers on the same page.”Arsenault didn?t request any additional staffing for the Waybright School and said she?s hoping to maintain what she has next year.?We?re looking at what we need to stay afloat,” said Arsenault. “I personally want to maintain the status quo staff wise. Additional staff of course would always be helpful and welcome.”Lynnhurst Elementary School principal Lori Gallivan said she wants to add one more special education teacher next year because there are more special education inclusion students this year.Gallivan said she also wants to focus on improving the reading program at her school next year.?It?s not really a budgetary concern, but it?s an academic concern,” said Gallivan.Kathleen Stanton, principal at the Oaklandvale Elementary School, noted a 7 percent increase in students who don?t speak English as their first language and an increase to 27 percent in students who receive free and reduced lunch.Stanton requested additional English language and math tutors.?This year we had to give up the tutor,” said Stanton. “We had a tutor for four days and it was reduced to two because the needs at Veterans (Elementary) went up and we agreed to share. There are rumors that we?re going to restore those two days and I hope that?s the case. Oaklandvale relies upon those support services.”Marie Bridges, principal at the Ballard Early Childhood Center and assistant principal at the Veterans Elementary School, requested a handicap accessible ramp for the Ballard School and several staffing needs at the Veterans School.Bridges asked for an additional fourth grade teacher, an additional secretary/receptionist and an additional lunch monitor for the Veterans School.No numbers have been put together yet for the 2013 school budget, but on Tuesday School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said he expects to see them at the next School Committee meeting on Jan. 26.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].