THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 Page 3 A school budget message Superintendent McMahon outlines key features and challenges of her education spending plan for FY 2023 By Mark E. Vogler T he introduction of a Dean program in Saugus Public Schools is a key component of the proposed budget unveiled last week by Superintendent Erin McMahon for the 2023 fiscal year that begins July 1. “We are creating three Dean positions, one at each building, as one way to support and promote positive behavior,” Supt. McMahon said of the program that will cost $225,000. “According to the CDC, nationally, the proportion of emergency visits for mental health issues for youth 12-17 increased by 31 percent during the pandemic,” she said. “We have seen a similar trend in Saugus Public Schools; the hybrid educational model resulted in social regression that requires additional support for students’ social-emotional learning and mental health.” The superintendent cited the Dean program in a twopage message that accompanied her proposed educational spending plan – the first one she has crafted since beginning a five-year contract as the town’s new superintendent last July. Her $31.3 million budget, which the School Committee was expected to vote on last night after a public hearing (after press deadline), is an ambitious one which includes an increase of close to $1.5 million, or 4.87 percent, over the current budget. “Our goal is to ensure that we have appropriate staffing to meet the educational and emotional needs of Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin K. McMahon. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) our students, while pursuing the School Committee’s ambitious goal – to catapult Saugus Public Schools from the bottom 10 percent of Massachusetts’ districts to the top 10 in five years,” McMahon said. “Similar to our surrounding communities, the pandemic has resulted in a loss of local revenue and created uncertainty in the level of state aid for FY2023. With all of this in mind, Saugus Public Schools must deliver on its promise to provide a high-quality education for all students,” she declared. In preparing next year’s budget, McMahon noted that she created a Report of Entry Findings, ran focus groups with parents and caregivers, held more than 70 one-on-one conversations and “engaged school leaders and staff in the process of examining spending trends and resource allocation.” “This work, together with your thoughtful feedback on the Report, allowed me to gain an understanding of where the district is right now; compare this understanding of our current reality with the long-term vision for the district; and, then align our strategy and budget to deliver on our collective vision for Saugus Public Schools,” she said. The Dean program is one of three key requests and a cost containment factor that McMahon highlighted in her budget message. She also cited: • A significant increase in out of district placements for Special Education. “The return to in person learning after a period of remote learning has resulted in behavioral dysregulation in our most vulnerable special education population,” the superintendent said. “Out-of-district placements for special needs students rose to just over $4 million this year. While this is also true across the Commonwealth, the impact for Saugus is an increase of $805,874 associated with providing out of district placements.” • Costs associated with contractual agreements related to salaries are rising by $548,065. In addition, the Saugus School Committee enters into negotiations with all three unions – Saugus Educators’ Association, Saugus Educational Assistants Association, and Saugus School Clerical Association – along with three vendor Requests for Proposals. “In order to enter into these negotiations in good faith, we are planning for an additional $575,000 increase,” the superintendent said. • Cost Containments: School district enrollment has declined by almost 200 students over the past four years, with more families choosing private, charter or home school options. The enrollment decline requires school officials to reduce the number of teachers, in kindergarten through the 12th grade, by up to 12 teachers, resulting in planned savings of $672,000, according to McMahon. Despite the reduction in teachers, class sizes will continue to be in the very low 20s, she said. Only one teacher retired. The superintendent stressed BUDGET | SEE PAGE 6
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