THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 Page 9 THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS By Mark E. Vogler H ere are a few tidbits that you might want to know about this week in Saugus. Volunteer for something else! It’s hard to believe that people who felt snubbed by not getting named to the Saugus Public Schools superintendent search committee took the time to write some nasty emails. Thirty people volunteered to serve on the committee that will screen potential candidates to replace School Superintendent David DeRuosi, Jr., who will be retiring on June 30 – the end of the 2021 Fiscal Year and school year – after presiding over the town’s school system for five years. But only a dozen people got selected to fill out the 15-member committee. Most people were gracious. “There’s always a couple that get very upset and unprofessional,” School Committee Chair Tom Whittredge said at last Thursday night’s School Committee meeting. “We’re not going to keep explaining to 50-yearold guys why you can’t make the committee. Sorry to be so blunt,” Whittredge said. “If it hurts your feelings, I apologize.” But it was clear that Whittredge was annoyed by the negative emails that he said would be going into the trash can. “This is where it ends,” he stressed. With all of the challenges facing the School Committee, being chided by citizens who felt jilted for not being among the chosen dozen wasn’t a complaint that the School Committee would be taking very seriously. To those folks who feel left out, call up Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s office and request to fill a vacancy on one of the numerous Town Committees. If you want to do something noble, request to be on the town’s Commission on Disability. They lack enough members to meet – only three members when they need at least five. Or, do something challenging. There will be town elections this fall for Town Meeting, the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee, among others. The News that’s never welcome I can probably count on one hand the number of times during my journalism career that I was working on a sad story involving the loss of somebody’s loved one – only to get distracted by the loss of somebody that affects me personally. One time is bad enough. But it happened again yesterday when I was finishing up a story about the passing of Saugus Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano’s dad, Andrew. DERUOSI | FROM PAGE 8 in best practices, data and research and the expertise and cooperation of staff • Understands that postCOVID schools will require sensitivity to and support for the social, emotional and mental health of students, staff and parents, as well as the need to address and compensate for lost learning time and incorporate new instructional practices • Is a transformational yet stabilizing leader who is committed to building morale, earning trust and establishing a visible presence in the community and schools for an extended period of time • Is quick to study and is prepared to hit the ground running; is eager to make a positive difference in the lives of WHAT’S COOKING? Liz Barbour of The Creative Feast, frequent visitor to the Saugus Public Library, will be leading a webinar titled “Cook Along w/Liz: Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day” on April 8, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Mass Cultural Council. Go to the Saugus Public Library website for the registration link at www.sauguspubliclibrary.org. (Courtesy photos to The Saugus Advocate) I got a call from my cousin Beverly, who had been trying to reach me for a couple of days about the passing of her mom – my Aunt Betty Almeida of Somerset, who had died Sunday at age 85. Aunt Betty was a crusty, tough-talking lady who wouldn’t be afraid to tell you where to go if you crossed her. But she was a person who was full of love and had a huge soft spot in her heart for the underdog and downtrodden people of the world. “Betsy was a longtime member of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Fall River and dedicated countless hours volunteering at the church thrift shop, outreach programs and soup kitchen,” read her obituary. “Betsy also with the assistance of long time friend Florence Lawrence sewed and delivered stuffed compassion bears to cancer patients in the surrounding communities. Over the years, her faith and her family came above all else, and Betsy cherished the time she spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren ...She will be fondly remembered as a kind, giving and strong woman with a quick wit, who would do anything for those in need, especially children.” students and the community and can skillfully transform conflict into collaboration • Demonstrates the knowledge of and commitment to providing 21st century learning opportunities for students of all backgrounds, abilities and learning styles • Effectively recruits, develops, supervises and retains high-quality and diverse teachers and specialists, support staff and leadership team members • Is thoroughly familiar with the budget development and implementation process and can persuasively advocate for the financial resources needed to address the district’s shortterm and long-term school improvement goals Through an analysis of feedback provided by the seven focus groups and the online survey, four major themes emerged. They are as follows: • Raising Student Achievement Is Job #1 and the Key Strategy for Retaining and Attracting Students Back to the District. • Effective, Open and Varied Communication and Community Building Strategies Are Prerequisites to Fostering Trust and Support for the Schools. • Politically Skilled but Non-Political Leadership Are Required and the Needs of ALL Students Must Drive All Decisions. • The New Superintendent Will Be “Stepping onto a Moving Treadmill” and Will Need to Immediately Address Two Major Developments: The Return to School in the Aftermath of COVID and the Transition to a New Three-School-Facility Model Sounds like quite a few kind and compassionate people I’ve met in Saugus over the five-plus years I have been editor of The Saugus Advocate. After fielding the call from my cousin Beverly, I got an email from the wife of another cousin down in Southeastern Massachusetts. I was looking forward to relaxing today and having a fun weekend. Instead, I will be down in Somerset expressing condolences to relatives. But the silver lining will be celebrating a life that was well lived. And that’s the best way to deal with the death of a loved one or close friend. My Aunt Betty seemed like both. Multiple “Shout-Outs” for Saugus residents Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member Jeanie Bartolo offered a double “Shout-Out” for this week’s issue: “The first one is for Done Right Landscaping for once again cleaning and sprucing up the rotary at Cliftondale Square. They do this every year for us at no cost to the town,” Jeanie wrote us in an email this week. “All of us who live in Cliftondale are grateful to them because it makes the Square look so much nicer. Which leads me to my second “Shout Out” to Town Meeting Member from Precinct 3, Rick Smith, who went before the Board of Selectmen at their last meeting to request getting Route 1 cleaned of all the trash and debris that makes the whole corridor look awful. Thanks Rick!” Avid Saugus Advocate reader Sue Fleming wanted to heap praise on the Saugus Public Library THE SOUNDS OF SAUGUS | SEE PAGE 12
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