SAUGUS Your Local News & Sports Online. Subscribe & Scan Here! CAT D Vol. 26, No.2 CAT FOR SAUGUS HEALTH T TE -FREE- www.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 781-233-4446 Friday, January 12, 2024 Funding Saugus Public Schools Superintendent’s proposed Fy 2025 spending plan is $2.7-million more than current budget By Mark E. Vogler he 2025 fiscal year spending plan proposed by School Superintendent Michael Hashem is nearly $2.7 million more than the $31.6-million operating budget approved at last May’s Annual Town Meeting. “Most of the additional budgetary costs are associated with all three union contractual agreements, adding $1.4-million dollars to maintain current staffing levels,” Hashem noted in his budget message. In his budget message to the School Committee, Hashem also stressed the fi scal challenge because of the elimination of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds from the federal government. “This budget refl ects the needs of the district to move forward, as well as addressing a transition from using ESSER funding to supplement the working budget,” Hashem wrote in his budget message to School CommitWELCOME TO THE BOARD: Joseph Dorant (left) raises his hand as he prepares for his swearing-in ceremony at Saugus Town Hall last week, with Board of Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta administering the oath of offi ce. Please see inside for more photos and the story on Dorant’s fi rst meeting. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Assistant Town Clerk Stephanie Hardy) tee members. “This is the fi rst budget cycle since the pandemic where additional emergency fi nancial support is no longer available to school districts,” he said. Hashem, who was hired on Nov. 2 and signed to a threeyear contract through June 30, 2027, after the fi ring of School Superintendent Erin McMahon, was expected to make a formal presentation of the budget at last night’s School Committee meeting. A public hearing on the superintendent’s proposed $34.3-million budget is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 18 in the School Committee room. Committee members will then vote on the budget for the fi scal year that begins July 1 after the public has had a chance to comment. The School Committee must submit its budget to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree by Jan. 29. “The superintendent’s budget seems to focus on direct student services, the needs of the district and works to retain and recruit qualifi ed educators at all levels,” School Committee Member Ryan Fisher told The Saugus Advocate Wednesday night. “I’m looking forward to his presentation on Thursday,” he said. The meeting took place six hours after The Saugus Advocate deadline. The newspaper reached out to all fi ve committee members for comment on the budget, which they received on Monday. But only Fisher responded. School Committee members usually rally behind in support of a superintendent’s budget request, which traditionally has been reduced in the overall budget that the town manager submits to Town Meeting. Town Manager Crabtree is exPUBLIC SCHOOLS | SEE PAGE 2 $3.98 87 87 $3.59
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