Saugus schools overspending on heat draws concern

SAUGUS – The winter?s record-low temperatures have resulted in over-spending on heating costs in Saugus schools.Pola Andrews, the finance and operations executive director, reported to the School Committee at its meeting Thursday that the heating costs for the schools was a real concern. In one example, Andrews reported that the administration building had spent over $25,000 to date on heating costs when it had only been budgeted for $18,000.Andrews also reported that the more than $11,000 in heating costs at the Ballard Early Childhood Center had been “mistakenly paid for by the town,” and that the school would be making a transfer to correct the problem.To put the district in a “better position to absorb unanticipated heating expenses,” Andrews said the district would be on a strict spending plan for the rest of the year, spending only what was necessary to keep the school in operation.Committee member Arthur Grabowski applauded Superintendent Michael Tempesta for his approval of the strict budget moving forward, since he said it was the third year in a row he had suggested the action and had not been supported by previous superintendents. “It?s not nice to do, but we have to do what we have to with the budget we have to work with,” said Grabowski.