THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022 Page 3 Rep. Wong supports $55M supplemental budget to fund COVID-19 testing and school masks B OSTON – State Representative Donald H. Wong (R-Saugus) recently supported a $55 million supplemental budget that provides funding for expanded COVID-19 testing and the distribution of masks for public school districts, while also setting a date for the 2022 state primary election. House Bill 4340, An Act relative to immediate COVID recovery needs, was engrossed on a vote of 1590 in the House of Representatives on January 19, 2022. On January 24 the Senate Committee on Ways and Means recDonald H. Wong State Representative ommended passage of the bill with an amendment (S.2622). Representative Wong said the spending proposal earmarks $25 million to help establish and expand COVID-19 testing sites across Massachusetts and to purchase tests. Funding will be made available for on-site testing locations – such as community health centers, urgent care centers and nonprofit organizations – which will be required to provide walk-up appointments. An additional $25 million will be used to acquire N95 and KN95 Supt. McMahon makes her budget case “Based on Saugus’ Strategic Plan, ‘Connecting our Past, Defining Our Future 2035,’ high-quality schools are its missing piece,” superintendent says as School Committee backs her proposed budget By Mark E. Vogler in our community for the longterm success of this generation S uperintendent Erin McMahon considers strong classroom instruction, programs based on student and family needs and high expectations as key components of her fiveyear plan to transform Saugus Public Schools from the bottom 10 percent of education districts into the top 10. “The budget that I have presented to the School Committee directly aligns with that vision,” McMahon told School Committee members last Thursday (Jan. 20) night as she explained the need for the budget she had crafted for the 2023 fiscal year that begins July 1. The superintendent made her case, using a PowerPoint presentation that cited a preliminary Master Plan goal of Saugus being “a model to the region, emof students,” McMahon said. “The kids who are right now in pre-K, in 2035 will be sophomores in college or potentially juniors,” she said. School Committee members Erin McMahon phasizing its commitment to fiscal responsibility, sustainability and high-quality schools.” “Based on Saugus’ Strategic Plan, “Connecting our Past, Defining Our Future 2035,” high-quality schools are its missing piece,” she said, referring to the Master Plan document. “It is essential for us to have that long-term vision of what a town is planning for 2035, to invest now voted 5-0 in support of McMahon’s $31.3 million budget, which includes an increase of close to $1.5 million, or 4.87 percent, over the current budget. School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould stressed it is important for the School Department to develop “a collaborative plan prior to getting to the Finance Committee and Town Meeting.” “As we all know, once it hits Town Meeting, it’s too late to make any changes. So, I’m hoping there’s a lot of dialogue to nail McMAHON | SEE PAGE 13 masks for distribution to students, staff and faculty at elementary and secondary public schools no later than February 28. The remaining $5 million is being set aside to help increase WONG | SEE PAGE 4
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