Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 10, 2023 SCHOOL | FROM PAGE 1 After eight years as principal of Saugus High School, Hashem gave up his administrative job for the classroom as a mathematics teacher in June of 2021. School Committee members lauded Hashem’s leadership, particularly for overseeing the school district’s move from the old Saugus High School to the new Saugus Middle-High School complex in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Mike is and has always been a class act,” then-School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge said of Hashem, when he announced his return to the classroom in 2021. “I thank him for his eight years of leadership at the High School and as interim superintendent. Without him, the move from the old High School to the new complex would not have been a smooth one. He will be a valuable asset in his return to the classroom,” Whittredge said at the time. Hashem was not present when the Committee conducted its meeting via “Zoom” video-conferencing last week. Meanwhile, no new information has been revealed regarding the investigation into McMahon’s alleged misconduct. In the written statement she $3.65 GALLON We accept: MasterCard * Visa * & Discover Price Subject to Change without notice 100 Gal. Min. 24 Hr. Service 781-286-2602 provided to The Saugus Advocate shortly after she was put on leave, McMahon alluded to potential concerns about the School District’s fiscal management. There are unconfirmed reports from several town officials that the investigation is focusing on alleged misappropriation of funds. “The district’s financial records are audited every year by independent CPAs who have never reported to me that the school department should change or adjust any practices,” McMahon said in her statement. “While I have not yet been provided with any specific allegations made against me, any allegations of wrongdoing on my part are false. With the assistance of my attorneys, Michael Long and Sheilah McCarthy, I will zealously and transparently defend my unblemished professional reputation,” the superintendent said. McMahon said she welcomed the “review and oversight by a qualified professional investigator.” “I look forward to assisting in an unbiased review, which I hope will be done efficiently and expeditiously,” she said She voluntarily stepped down on Jan. 17, pending the completion of the investigation. “I look forward to returning soon to leading this district toward providing the best possible education for the children of Saugus,” she said. McMahon is midwa y through the second year of a five-year plan to move the school district from the bottom 10 percent of academic performing schools to the top 10 percent, based on the district’s ranking against the state in performance on Math and Reading scores in the MCAS Exam.. HE’S BACK AT THE HELM: Former Saugus High School Principal Michael Hashem is again in charge of Saugus Public Schools on a temporary basis (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) In June of 2021, the School Committee voted 4-1 to approve a five-year contract for McMahon, with a starting salary of $196,000. Then School Committee member Arthur Grabowski was the lone member who opposed the five-year contract/ The superintendent stands to earn close to a million dollars over the life of the contract. It marked the first time in the history of Saugus Public Schools that the School Committee had approved a fiveyear contract for the leader of the town’s public education system. It was also the first time that the School Committee had hired a woman superintendent The COVID-19 Update T here were 19 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Saugus over the past week through Wednesday (Feb. 8). The new cases reported by the state Department of Public Health (DPH) over the past week increased the overall total to 10,489 confirmed cases since the outbreak of the global pandemic in March of 2020, according to Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree. This week’s total was a decrease of four over the number of newly confirmed cases reported last week. THIS WEEK ON SAUGUS TV Sunday, Feb. 12 from 9 – 11 p.m. on Channel 8 – “Sunday Night Stooges” (The Three Stooges). Monday, Feb. 13 all day on Channel 8 – “Movie Monday” (classic movies). Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Hockey vs. Beverly from Feb. 11. Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 12:30 p.m. on Channel 8 – Saugus Over Coffee from Feb. 13. Precinct 2 is highlighted. Thursday, Feb. 16 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 22 – SHS Boys Basketball vs. Peabody from Feb. 14. Friday, Feb. 17 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – Planning Board Meeting from Feb. 16. Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 9 – School Committee Meeting from Feb. 16. Sunday, Feb. 19 at 12:30 p.m. on Channel 8 – What’s Cookin’? with Amanda. Saugus TV can be seen on Comcast Channels 8, 9 & 22. For complete schedules, please visit www.saugustv.org. ***programming may be subject to change without notice*** Town reports 19 newly confirmed cases; 4 new deaths By Mark E. Vogler But there were four new COVID-19-related deaths over the past week, increasing the death toll to 109. That was the largest number of deaths reported for the town in any week since last March 3 when there were six deaths reported. “Our hearts and prayers go out to those families affected by this health pandemic,” Crabtree said.
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