SAUGUS — After a particularly difficult election season, Saugus’ newest school board members are eager to get the ball rolling at their first general meeting Wednesday.
In addition to reviewing the district’s financial report, setting future meeting dates, and getting initial introductions out of the way, several of the board’s members say they plan to focus much of their energy going forward on creating a supportive environment within the schools and among the committee.
John Hatch, making his return to the board after a 16-year hiatus, said he’s witnessed a definite dip in morale since his previous tenure.
“It’s a different culture now,” said Hatch, who has a daughter in seventh grade and a son in 12th.
“There seemed to be much more pride in the district back then. It celebrated more successes than failures.”
The school committee, now headed by Thomas Whittredge, along with Joseph “Dennis” Gould, Arthur Grabowski, Ryan Fisher and Hatch, hasn’t had an easy year. From a hard-fought battle by students and faculty to prevent the district from privatizing school custodial services, to a cutthroat election that saw three out of five committee members ousted (the two other members did not run for re-election), much of the new board is in agreement that keeping a positive mentality will be crucial in the coming months.
“I see it myself,” said new chair Whittredge, who has a daughter in Pre-K and a son in sixth grade. “It has to do with the atmosphere around the election, but I’m more of an optimist. I’d rather concentrate on the people who want to be here.”
This includes students, several of whom will be in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting. The agenda includes a presentation by Saugus High School student representatives Alyssa Swibble Martinez, Christopher Denovellis, and Kian McCabe, and the school committee will also have the chance to meet several of Belmonte Middle School’s Stars of the Month.
“These students can make a big impact,” said Hatch.
Hatch and fellow new board member Gould believe another source of hope is the district’s plan to combine grades six through 12 in Saugus’ newly built school.
“They’ve made this new school into a point of pride not just for the town, but for the state,” Hatch said of the School Building Committee.
Gould, who has a granddaughter in the fourth grade, thinks the change is an opportunity to take note of high-performing schools and apply their methods throughout the district.
“It’s a great opportunity … When we transition to the new system, each grade will have the same principal. It gives us a chance to learn from schools that are doing well,” he said.
The newly-formed committee might have a lot of big issues to tackle, but that isn’t dimming their enthusiasm for putting their new ideas into action, and giving credit where it’s due.
“I ran because I want students, teachers, and administrators to feel supported and enjoy and appreciate where they go to school and work,” Hatch said. “Seeing the school’s successes over the last several years, there’s much more we should be celebrating. I want to point those out.”
Whittredge said: “I’m looking forward to working with Mr. Grabowski and all members of the committee.”
“I think people are ready for a change.”
