SAUGUS — The public had the chance to speak on the FY27 school budget Thursday night as the School Committee prepares to vote on it.
First to comment on the budget was Jamie Goldfarb, an elementary teacher at the Belmonte STEAM Academy, who read a letter on behalf of a staff member.
“I am here to advocate for our English (Language) Learners at the Belmonte, and I want to be clear that this issue impacts not only our school but the district as a whole,” the letter stated.
It mentioned an audit conducted two years ago that found the ELL program was out of compliance with state requirements.
Goldfarb continued to read that while grant funding was received to help support ELL positions, next year, that grant funding will end, and ELL positions have not been added to the district budget.
“As it currently stands, the budget includes only three ELL teachers at the Belmonte instead of four, despite the fact that our student needs have continued to grow,” she said.
It was noted that the Belmonte is serving approximately 150 ELL students and that the number is set to grow.
“Support for English Learners is not optional. These services are required by law, and failure to provide adequate staffing places the district at risk of continued noncompliance, potential corrective action, and, most importantly, harm to student outcomes,” she said.
Paraprofessional Nadia Pasquariello, who is the president of the Paraprofessionals Union, spoke next.
“Last year’s cuts have affected all of us, especially the kids. Our class sizes are big. It’s reducing the support in the classroom,” Pasquariello said. “We need more staffing, more teachers, more paraprofessionals, (and) more counseling.”
She said that when they call down to the office needing help in the classroom, it’s rare that they get any help sent over.
“It’s essential for the students to get what they need. I’m here for them. I’m speaking on behalf of them,” she said. “A lot of us are being pulled to cover lunches, recesses, absences. That’s not right.”
The conversation throughout the meeting heavily focused on the need for more teachers as class sizes grow.
“One of the concerns (at the Belmonte) is the class sizes there and not putting into the budget trying to rehire the four classroom teachers that were cut, making it so that there’s eight classes per grade level instead of nine,” Lori Fauci, a parent and Town Meeting member, said.
She said that the town has “awesome staff” but that students won’t get as much with larger class sizes, making a need for more teachers.
Kevin Fontanella, president of the Saugus Educators Association and a teacher in the district for 27 years, thanked the Committee for having the public hearing and for the communication.
Fontanella also highlighted the “swelling” of class sizes, making it more difficult for educators to focus on individual students.
“In 2019, there were a total of 202.8 FTE (full-time employee) positions. Now that doesn’t include just teachers. That includes pretty much every employee… In 2019, the same year, there were 2,609 students who were enrolled in the district,” Fontanella said.
He then noted that in 2025, there were a total of 175.8 FTE positions and 2,675 students enrolled.
Fontanella said that it’s understood that costs are going up and there is a constraint on the budget, but that it seems “ridiculous” to have student numbers going up and teacher positions decreasing.
Town Meeting member Peter Manoogian comments on the Supplemental Student Support Reserve Fund established by Town Meeting.
“It seems to me that some of those funds could be used for ELL to address either Saturday school, after-school programs, or at-home tutoring for ELL students. I think that’s a way to fill the very legitimate issue,” he said.
Chair Thomas Whittredge noted that Superintendent of Schools Michael Hashem is working on this.
Manoogian also commented on the class sizes being excessive at the elementary level and how the funds could be used to create a program for reading resource intervention.
One final comment made during the public hearing was from Town Meeting member Matthew Parlante, who continued to push for the district to hire a School Resource Officer, not just to help protect students, but to build a bridge between students and authority.
The Committee held a discussion as to whether they should vote on the budget that night, with the deadline being Jan. 30, but it was ultimately decided to table the vote.
