Saugus board talks new school, fiscal cliff effects

SAUGUS – Superintendent Richard Langlois said he has received an application from the state for a statement of interest for a new high school.Speaking to the School Committee Thursday night, Langlois said the Massachusetts School Building Authority opened the application process on Wednesday and the town has until April 10 to submit it.?We have some information at hand to give just cause for our submission,” said Langlois.Finance Director Pola Andrews gave an update on school finances and said $10 million has been spent through December of the total $25.6 million department budget.?I feel we are right on target with the budget this year,” said Andrews.Andrews commended administration and staff members for their work in keeping costs down.?I hope that going forward we can continue on the same track,” she said.Director of Pupil Personnel Services Heather Geary said the department has hired a nurse and a speech and language therapist for the Ballard Early Childhood Center.In other business, Langlois said because of the recent deal on the so called “fiscal cliff,” automatic spending cuts have been postponed to March 1. Langlois said these could still have an effect on the district?s budget, which the committee will hold a public hearing about on Jan. 24.?By Monday we hope to get you the budget book,” said Langlois. “It?s my typical thick binder and you?ll have some time to go through it.”School Committee Vice Chairman Corinne Riley said a $30,000 child safety grant to redo tennis courts at the Belmonte Middle School was cut to $15,000 because the town didn?t act in time.Riley said she would coordinate with Town Manager Scott Crabtree to make sure the town gets the money before it gets cut again.School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said it would have been nice to have the full $30,000 to get the project started.?Fifteen isn?t going to cover the complete reconstruction of the tennis courts and that?s a shame,” she said.No residents attended the meeting Thursday as the committee did not discuss the status of high school Principal Joseph Diorio, who has been on non-disciplinary leave pending an audit.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].