Saugus teachers saved in school budget

SAUGUS – The School Committee has settled on a Fiscal 2016 budget that guarantees no teacher layoffs and an athletic user fee that stays the same as it was last year.Committee member Arthur Grabowski said the FY 2016 budget, which was finalized Tuesday night, is $27,675,250 – a $700,000 increase from the previous year.Under the originally proposed spending plan, 12 to 15 teachers would have been laid off, and user fees would have jumped to $700 per sport from $350-$400.School Committee member Vinny Serino said while no budget is adequate, the important part is keeping user fees low and teacher retainment.?We kept the critical needs,” Serino said.Jeannie Meredith, vice chair, said the budget was well-balanced, especially for the student athletic account.?I am very pleased that working together, we, as a School Committee and a community, were able to vote and pass a balanced budget for the schools that maintains our teachers in the classroom and level funds the student athletic account that directly impacts student athletic fees,” Meredith said. “Saugus schools will continue to educate a well-balanced student athlete. This will contribute to the success of our children competitively competing for admittance into colleges and universities across the nation.”Although this year?s budget is an increase over last year, Grabowski said it?s still not enough.He said unforeseen expenditures, such as a rough winter this upcoming season, could still make things tight.?It?s extremely bare-boned,” he said. “There?s no room for deviation. We need every dime we asked for, especially since we really don?t know what will happen in the future.”Grabowski said the School Committee made limited cuts, such as supplies, a shop class with low participation rates, dues and subscriptions. “We cut classes with 10 to 12 students in it, because it wasn?t viable to have a class size that small,” Grabowski said. “We did what we could so teachers could keep their jobs for the good of our kids.”Grabowski said despite what he calls limited funds, the teachers and instructors do a phenomenal job with what they?re given.?We offer a good education, but we could offer a great education if we had everything we needed,” he said. “They do a great job with what they have in order to move forward every year.”Serino said many of Saugus High graduates are headed to prestigious colleges this fall, thanks to their teachers and support staff.?When you step back and think about it, it?s phenomenal,” Serino said. “Our kids are going to Harvard, MIT, Northeastern and other big-name schools.”Meredith wanted to thank Town Manager Scott Crabtree, the Finance Committee and Town Meeting for the additional funding this year to make that possible.?We as leaders need to continue to strive to work together as a community of one,” Meredith said. “I am also encouraged by the collaboration with the Massachusetts School Building Authority?s Saugus High School project and look forward to continuing to work on and move this joint project forward for the future of Saugus.”