Overcrowding concern for Saugus schools

SAUGUS – Saugus School Superintendent Richard Langlois said an increase in enrollment at some schools this year has raised some concerns about overcrowding.According to Langlois, the Lynnhurst Elementary School has an additional 50 students from last year while the Belmonte Middle School and Saugus High School each have an additional 60 students.?We?re still taking in students and we?re running out of space,” said Langlois as he updated the Saugus School Committee Thursday night. “It?s a caution. It?s a thing we have to monitor.”Langlois said he added a teacher to the Lynnhurst School to help with the increased enrollment. Langlois noted enrollment numbers at the other schools in the district are “pretty decent.”?We?ve been able to bounce things around and maneuver,” said Langlois. “Right now we?re pretty comfortable as long as it doesn?t get any greater.”Langlois also said a new breakfast program rolled out in all the schools on Monday, which includes supervisors to watch the kids and even help with school work.?I call it the breakfast club,” said Langlois. “If you didn?t finish your homework you can go in there and get some help.”The program runs from 8:10 a.m. to 8:35 a.m.Langlois commended district staff for a successful first day of school last week, including at the Belmonte School, where construction on the $18.9 million repair project started at the beginning of summer.?There was no major disruption at the Belmonte,” said Langlois. “Everything went smoothly. There was construction going on and people didn?t know it was going on. Everyone was pretty pleased.”In other business, Langlois told the committee that the high school woodworking program has been reinstated after it was initially going to be suspended for a year.Computer Technology teacher Michael Bontempo volunteered to teach one section of the class, which Langlois said has around 12 to 15 students enrolled.?It is back and now we have an opportunity to grow it two-fold with the technology,” said Langlois.Langlois also announced that former Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick and author Tim Green will speak at the Belmonte School on Sept. 26 to discuss his new book “Unstoppable.”?It?s kind of a motivational thing and he does a tremendous job with the kids,” said Langlois.The School Committee will give a presentation of the 2012 MCAS results on Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the School Committee room.The School Committee also reached a new three-year contract with the district?s custodians.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].