Saugus school board waiting to talk funding

SAUGUS – School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said “the ball is in the manager?s court” to reschedule a meeting to discuss a source of money for three Town Meeting articles for the schools.The three articles seek money for technology and textbooks, handicap ramps at the high school and Ballard School, and for a new master plan for the district.Reed noted the Finance Committee said bonding for textbooks is not allowed and said she is waiting for Town Manager Scott Crabtree to reschedule a meeting from Monday.?I?m not sure where it stands now,” said Reed, during Thursday?s School Committee meeting. “I?m not sure how this is going to go and I don?t even know if they?ll entertain the master plan. I?m not sure if it?s going to be supported at this time.”Superintendent Richard Langlois said the statement of interest for a new high school filed with the Massachusetts School Building Authority has been amended to include the threat of losing accreditation from the New England Association of School and Colleges.?We were allowed to amend and given an extended period of time,” said Langlois.?We drafted a quick response to the third priority. It was voted on on Wednesday on behalf of the School Committee. I have signed the agreement and all the evidence that is needed to submitted. We now have three priorities for renovation or replacement or both.”Reed thanked selectmen and the School Committee for pulling together last-minute meetings to approve the amendment.In other business, the committee voted to approve the warrant submitted by Finance Director Pola Andrews, who said one-third of the warrant, which is slightly over $300,000, is for out-of-district tuition while $80,000 is for gas from January through April after gas bills were under-estimated by National Grid.?We?re working with them and have asked them to come back and check the meters,” said Andrews. “This has become a bit of a project in the business office.”School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said he visited the Veterans Elementary School last month to “observe and partake” in their lunch program. Grabowski said he made a list of 10 observations that he wants to discuss with the Food Service Subcommittee.The committee also accepted several gifts, including $400 from O?Connor Portraiture to the Waybright Elementary School, $102 from Hannaford?s to the high school and $1,200 from the Friends of Saugus Softball to the high school athletic revolving account.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].