THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, MAy 10, 2024 Page 7 MISCONDUCT | FROM PAGE 1 ed with Sterite, John Puopolo and Reading resident Sandra Juliano, who attend meetings of the School Committee and City Council, off ering nothing but false accusations and disruption against the mayor and members of city government. Both Raymond – who wears an electronic bracelet and is currently barred from attending any meetings at City Hall and Everett High School due to a lawsuit fi led against him in Middlesex Superior Court by three City Hall employees – and Sterite, who was served by Everett Police on Monday, may be facing further criminal action due to the egregiousness of their recent actions of posting a high school student’s photos on a social media site. “We’ve had to take legal action with a no trespass order against the resident,” said Cristiano, referring to Sterite. “If this doesn’t cross a line, what does? To Public Commenters, I remind you, you are afforded miles of leeway in our meetings, but these proceedings have been corrupted by a small group of residents who jeer and snicker. I ask all of my colleagues to implore people to stop putting students in the middle of this nastiness. Can you say with sincerity an impartial resident would fi nd this a pleasant place to be?” In other business, the members accepted the Fiscal 2025 budget of $130,707,416 plus $4,600,000 for Special Education Transportation and chargebacks to the city of $32,749,540 for administrative and retirement expenses. The budget retains positions formerly funded with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) aid allocated during the pandemic, new administrators and $63,978 for Translation and Interpretation for School Committee and other meetings. “As someone who speaks English as a second language, I’m glad we have that,” Ward 5 School Committee Member Marcony Almeida-Barros said of the transition element. “I’m also happy we’re not laying anybody off and keeping positions previously funded by ESSER.” Nevertheless, he expressed concerns about additions to the administrative staff . “I advise the Superintendent to use caution in hiring,” he said. “I know we need some of these positions now, but we need to see the trajectory of what happens with the state budget.” “I’m trying to restore positions that will support the work we do, but will walk carefully on this,” Hart answered. “I also care about fi scal responsibility.” After the meeting he said positions were retained though funds from other grants. “We apply for every grant we can,” he said. “Being a Gateway City, an economically challenged city that once served as a gateway to prosperity for working class and immigrant families, we’re eligible for grants other communities aren’t.” In Public Comment, Everett Teachers Association President Kimberly Auger, School Administrative Assistant Rose Holt and Music Director Eugene O’Brien spoke in favor of the budget. MISCONDUCT | SEE PAGE 19 The Everett High School Winter Color Guard, shown with Supt. William Hart, were acknowledged by the school committee for their win at the New England Scholastic Band Association Winter Color Guard Championships in Salem.(Advocate photo)
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