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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MArCH 10, 2023 Page 11 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler Good Morning, Saugus! It’s been a little more than seven weeks since Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin McMahon went on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation into unspecified allegations of misconduct. Very little has come out publicly about the nature of the investigation or who has been running it since then. There were rumors early on that the probe involved alleged misappropriation of funds. The superintendent’s brief statement at the time that she went on leave alluded to potential concerns about the School District’s fiscal management. But she denied that there was any truth to such reports. “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. The longer the superintendent remains on administrative leave, the more uncertainty clouds her future with the School Department, potentially jeopardizing her lofty goals of having Saugus Public Schools climb from a scholastic ranking of the bottom 10 percent of the schools in the state to the top 10 percent within five years. Considering the huge investment that the School Committee made in McMahon two years ago – a fiveyear contract worth close to a million dollars – it would be another disappointing setback for the School District if the investigation ends with Saugus being forced to launch another in depth search for a top caliber administrator to lead the town’s public education system. It also could get costly for the town, as the superintendent vowed in her letter to “zealously and transparently defend my unblemished professional reputation,” with the assistance of her two attorneys. —Cont est— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK “Any allegations of wrongdoing on my part are false,” she declared. The big question that remains is this: By the time the superintendent gets done clearing her name – assuming she had done nothing improper – would she want to continue working for Saugus Public Schools? Inquiring minds in Saugus would like to know. “Saugus Over coffee” Precinct 3 will be the focus of our next “Saugus Over Coffee” forum, which will get underway on Monday (March 13) at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Saugus Public Library. Saugus residents who want to talk about Precinct 3 issues that concern them are invited to the library to speak their mind during an informative session that will last up to an hour and be videotaped and later aired on SaugusTV. They also will get to drink complimentary coffee or tea with some of the Town Meeting members who represent them. All five Precinct 3 Town GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED! Got an idea who was sketched this week? If you do, please email your name, address and the answer to mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978-683-7773. Anyone who answers correctly between now and Tuesday at noon qualifies to have their name put in a green Boston Red Sox hat with a chance to be selected as the winner of a $10 gift certificate, compliments of JIMMY’S STEER HOUSE, 114 Broadway (Rt. 1 North) in Saugus. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) Meeting members received personal letters and emails inviting them to attend the forum. Each member will have the opportunity to share their views on what makes Precinct 3 special and also highlight what they believe are the top challenges and issues facing the precinct. Following the presentations by Town Meeting members, Precinct 3 residents in the audience will have an opportunity to question any of their Town Meeting representatives or offer their own comments in what is meant to be a constructive sharing of ideas – not a confrontational debate. Because this is a town election year, any candidate for Town Meeting in Precinct 3 will receive an opportunity to introduce themselves and to share their views on what makes their precinct special and issues that concern them. “Saugus Over Coffee” is cosponsored by The Saugus Advocate and the Saugus Public Library. Each month through October, a different precinct will be featured. Precinct 3 residents who are unable to attend Monday’s forum should be able view it within a day or two on https:// vimeo.com/saugustelevision. But any residents in the precinct who have issues that concern them should show up and articulate those concerns on Monday night. After all, part of the duties of being a Town Meeting member is to listen to the concerns of the residents they represent and advocate for them. Whenever a neighborhood issue comes before the Board of Selectmen, it’s usually because of one or more Town Meeting members working behind the scenes to help solve a problem for somebody in their precinct. Stay tuned for more information as “Saugus Over Coffee” continues. Here is the remaining schedule: Precinct 3 – March 13 Precinct 4 – April 17 Precinct 5 – May 8 Precinct 6 – June 12 Precinct 7 – July 10 Precinct 8 – Aug. 14 Precinct 9 – Sept. 11 Precinct 10 – Oct. 23 Please check with The Saugus Advocate or library for any changes in dates. Residents can check the programming guide on the station’s website (www.saugustv.org) for dates and times. A video of the forum will also be available for viewing on the station’s vimeo page within a day or two after the event: www.vimeo. com/saugustelevision. Maple Sugarin’ at Breakheart Tomorrow Experience the process of maple sugarin’ – from tapping a tree to sampling maple syrup – tomorrow (Saturday, March 11) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Breakheart Reservation. Go to the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center (177 Forest St., Saugus). This program is cosponsored by the state Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of Breakheart Reservation. Enjoy some refreshments inside the Visitor Center for a $5.00 donation to the Friends of Breakheart Reservation ($20 for family of five to six) and then join in on a free tour of the maple sugarin’ process. Tour includes: history of maple sugaring, tree identification & tapping, wood splitting and the evaporator! For more information, please call 781233-0834. Seeking Hall of Fame nominations Do you know of a former Saugus High School athlete who deserves to be inducted into the Saugus High School Sports Hall of Fame? If you do, nominations are open for the Hall of Fame from now until March 28. There have been 263 athletes inducted since the Hall of Fame’s inception (1987). The Hall of Fame’s first class included Arthur Spinney, a Saugus High football great who played for two NFL championship teams with the Baltimore Colts in 1958 and 1959. A Saugus High athlete has to be out of school for at least 10 years before he or she can be nominated. Anyone looking to nominate a former Saugus High athlete can mail their letter of nomination to Barbara Wall at 28 Pleasant St., Saugus, MA 01906. Library joins Boston Bruins PJ Drive The Saugus Public Library and the Boston Bruins are teammates again. From now through March 15, the library will be accepting donations of pajamas for the Boston Bruins PJ Drive to benefit the Wonderfund of the Department of Children & Families (DCF) and Cradles to Crayons. The Saugus Public Library’s goal is to collect 100 pairs of new pajamas, according to Amy Melton, Head of Children’s Services. Many of the pajamas donated will benefit local homeless kids and teens, she said. Melton said there are two ways to donate: This year you can donate either by making a monetary donation directly to the pajama drive or by shopping for them yourself. The library is collecting new pairs of pajamas for children and teens: size 2T through adult medium. The library asks that people not donate holiday pajamas. The most-needed sizes: · Girls: 5/6–18/20 or adult S. · Boys: 7/8–18/20 or adult M. There is a collection bin at the library. SAVE 2023 Environmental Scholarship Saugus Action Volunteers for the Environment (SAVE) is very pleased to announce that it is offering a $1,000 Environmental Scholarship to Saugus residents of the Graduating Class of 2023 or to Saugus residents who are currently firstyear college attendees. This is a scholarship for students who will be or are attending a two/four-year college or other educational institution and pursuing a degree in an area that would positively impact the environment. Applicants can download THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 12

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