Saugus finance board holds off on school votes

SAUGUS – The Saugus Finance Committee put off votes on three articles for the school department so more information can be provided by school officials.Articles 21, 22 and 23 seek money for several upgrades around the district. Article 21 requests $300,000 to buy new textbooks and laptop computers while article 22 seeks money for a master plan to evaluate and recommend future capital planning, and article 23 seeks money to address handicap accessibility at Saugus High School and the Ballard Early Childhood Center.Committee Chairman Robert Palleschi said he wanted the school department to meet with Town Manager Scott Crabtree to discuss the articles “because none of them have a source of funding.”?We can?t vote if we don?t know how much or where it?s coming from,” he said.School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said it was the department?s intent to bond for the $300,000, but noted that at the last Finance Committee meeting it was mentioned that can?t be done.Finance Committee member Dave Castellarin, the town accountant in Swampscott, said his town generally doesn?t bond for textbooks because they “don?t have a useful life of more than three years.”Superintendent Richard Langlois said he “can?t find any evidence that says we can?t bond it,” and noted the school did just that in 2008.?We feel differently, that there is capacity,” he said. “We feel it?s a good investment because it will compliment textbooks all the way to grade 12 ? When I came in 2008, there was pretty much nothing.”Reed noted textbooks are purchased every year and the current article “is more of a boost because of new testing.”Town Meeting member Jean Bartolo said the town has to get into the habit of upgrading technology every year.?We have to,” she said. “We have to update the computers for every child ? This is the future. It?s education.”In other business, the committee voted to recommend article 14, a new vandalism and graffiti bylaw.?It has to do with property values and assessment, and how some neighborhoods have less value than others,” said Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, who wrote the article. “Has financial implications.”Crabtree also said he?s still working to finalize the town budget.Palleschi said the committee will wait to vote on the budget so it?s not done “piece meal.”?I think Town Meeting will appreciate that,” he said.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].