Saugus stands united in school bid

SAUGUS – School and town officials decided in a joint meeting this week that cost was no object if it meant getting the funding for a new high school.After the Massachusetts School Building Authority rejected Saugus? application for the funding of a new school in December, the School Committee voted to continue in their effort and re-apply for the April 11 deadline, this time in hopes that more support from the town will get the MSBA nod of approval.In a meeting Thursday, the School Committee and Superintendent Michael Tempesta, along with high school and central administration met with the Board of Selectman and Town Manager Scott Crabtree to discuss how to move forward.Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said though Saugus was looked over because of the sheer number of applicants and dire need in other communities, a more united town was a stronger applicant. “As we approach re-submission, we need to do this together. We have to show MSBA that we want this as a town to catch their attention, to show that we as Saugus want this,” said Reed.Crabtree admitted, and was supported by board Chairman Ellen Faiella, that Saugus was more divided during the last submission.Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian, who attended the open meeting, said in looking over the statement of interest submitted last year posted on the MSBA website, he felt it could have been more of a “compelling narrative” describing the needs and weaknesses in the high school.School officials agreed the last application had been put together last-minute. In order to make the application a less plumbing report and more winning proposal, Crabtree suggested he and Tempesta meet with a consultant.?They may be able to give us a better idea ? of what puts others in better standing,” said Crabtree.When the committee became concerned with the cost of a consultant, Crabtree said quickly, “Cost is not a factor, this is priority.” He added, jokingly, to Tempesta, “The school department has plenty of money.”Selectman Debra Panetta said it was important to get state delegation backing the town as well. “Their presence would give that extra push. I think that?s huge,” she said.Fellow Selectman Maureen Dever said in order to truly get Saugus behind the process, the more voters who are involved, the better. Reed agreed Dever?s idea would be effective, as she has seen it in action when the town was seeking aid to renovate Belmonte Middle School.Crabtree was confident that all voters, not just those with children, would want a better school once they saw the benefits, including increased property values and younger families moving to town. “It?s an investment to attract people to stay here,” he said.Curriculum Supervisor Frank Woods and Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem reminded the committee that even though they won the proposal this year, there were still updates with facilities and particularly with the school?s science labs that needed attention. Crabtree hoped to have hard numbers for temporary improvements to the school at the next meeting, decided for Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.Moving forward, the committee decided to bring a Town Meeting representative of each precinct to that meeting. Crabtree said in the meantime he would make calls to bring consultants in “to pick their brain and see what they can sell us.”