Diorio appointed Belmonte assistant

SAUGUS – Former Saugus High School Principal Joseph Diorio is heading to the Belmonte Middle School as assistant principal, according to Superintendent Michael Tempesta.Tempesta told the Saugus School Committee Thursday night that he appointed Diorio to the position and noted the assistant principal position at the high school, which had been filled by Jason Merrill before he took over as interim principal, has been posted.Tempesta said he thinks Diorio will be a good fit and noted Belmonte Principal Kerry Robbins is “very much on board” with the move.?She?s very supportive,” he said.Tempesta said Diorio will join fellow Assistant Principal Myra Monto and replace interim Assistant Principal Maureen Lueke, who is returning to guidance.Diorio was placed on paid administrative leave in December pending an audit into the high school student activity accounts and returned to the district in central administration last month.Michael Hashem was named the new principal of Saugus High last month, while Merrill took a job in another district.The student activity accounts at the middle school were also audited, but Finance Director Pola Andrews said she doesn?t have an update yet.In other business, Andrews updated the committee on the close of last school year?s budget. Andrews said there were deficits in the coaching budget at the high school as well as a $22,000 deficit for gas at the high school from energy company Santa Buckley.Andrews said she told the company that was not acceptable because it?s public money and it was not anticipated to be that much.?For a utility company to come at the end of the year and say, ?Oh by the way, you owe this much,? that doesn?t make sense,” said Andrews.Andrews said there were also deficits in the transportation budget and a $40,000 deficit in the McKinney-Vento budget, which is money to transport homeless students.Andrews said McKinney Vento was budgeted for $50,00 and came in at $90,000, with$30,000 being spent in June alone.?We?re working closely with pupil personnel to address that so we?re not surprised again,” said Andrews.School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said the committee has to make sure people spend what is budgeted.?We can?t have these overages,” he said. “We have to really look at this from day one with a fine-toothed comb. It?s getting worse.”Policy Subcommittee Chairman Frederick Doucette said the subcommittee voted to postpone a second reading of policy FF, which allows for the naming of school spaces after individuals, to get more input from the public after meeting Thursday afternoon.There has been strong public support for naming the high school auditorium after late drama teacher Nancy Lemoine.