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Page 2 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, April 26, 2024 Town Meeting 2024 Saugus public Schools seeks approval of a $500,000 proposal for student afterschool enrichment programs By Mark E. Vogler S chool Superintendent Michael Hashem and the administrative staff of Saugus Public Schools are developing a $500,000 afterschool enrichment plan to improve education on all levels of the school system during the 2024-25 academic year. Money for the program is already available from the Supplemental Student Support Reserve Fund that was introduced by Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree at a Special Town Meeting in the fall of 2022 and approved by Town Meeting members. But in order for the Saugus Public Schools to access these funds, the Superintendent and School Committee must submit a detailed plan to the Saugus Finance Committee, which will determine that the plan supplements current educational programming, and does not supplant it. The proposal, which is listed as Article 10 on the warrant for the May 6 Annual Town Meeting, is the first one submitted since the fund was created in late 2022 with $3 million set aside. Article 10 targets enrichment activities for students outside of school hours. “This would include afterschool programming, tutoring, and other enrichment activities,” according to the plan submitted by Saugus Publics Schools on March 29. The plan notes that its priorities are: • To develop and provide enrichment programs outside of the school day, including summer school, evening school and before and after school programs not currently existing in the school budget • To deliver at-home tutoring for students who have been identified as needing one-onone support from a qualified educator • To procure and administer norm-referenced student assessments to identify individual student deficiencies in mathematics and reading • To develop and implement STUDENTS | FROM PAGE 1 Recent data over a five year Eastern Bank Building on Rte. 1S 605 Broadway, #301 * Saugus (781) 233-6844 www.bostonnorthdental.com period (2019-23) shows that the Saugus enrollment at the Voke as of last Oct. 1 had dropped from 179 to 125. Crabtree said he’s sought an explanation from the Voke administration in writing, but hasn’t received a response. “Something has changed, but nobody can explain what exactly has changed,” Crabtree said. “To me, it’s about the stuDr. Priti Amlani Dr. Bhavisha Patel dents. I think the vocational school is very impressive. We would want more capacity,” he said. Finance Committee Mem* Restorative Dentistry * Cosmetic Dentistry * Implant Restoration * Zoom Whitening * Teeth in a Day - All on 6 * Invisalign * CEREC Crowns (Single Visit Crowns) * Root Canal Treatment * Sedation Dentistry ~ Full Mouth Rehabilitation ~ Before After ber Steven DiVirgilio thanked the town manager for his continued pursuit of answers, “because, clearly, we are getting screwed.” In recent years, Finance Committee members have been critical of the Voke’s administration in providing information about Saugus as it relates to the vocational school district – particularly on future costs of the new Voke school that will be built in Wakefield. “Maybe next year we’ll have an opinion,” said Finance Committee Vice Chair George DeDomenico. parent/guardian communication and training programs that will help facilitate student learning and success • To supplement existing ESL/ ELL learners including, but not limited to, materials and properly credentialed staff to support these learners • To ensure access to technology for students who have been identified as not having such at home • To develop and implement extended day programs for students as needed • To develop any program deemed appropriate and proven effective with the goal of bringing about student academic and social recovery from two years of remote learning “This would allow for funding for six (6) six-weeks sessions that would expand school hours to serve our students outside of the traditional school day,” the plan said. “This proposal and funding would be used to stipend a person to serve as Enrichment Developer/Coordinator, whose purpose would be to design and oversee this extra-curricu“We’ve asked these same questions in the past,” he said. There were no representatives of the Voke administration attending Wednesday’s Finance Committee meeting. Precinct 2 Town Meeting Member Peter A. Rossetti, Jr., the longtime Saugus representative on the Northeast Metro Tech District School Committee, did show up at the first floor conference room after the meeting ended. Rossetti said he came “just in case” Finance Committee members had questions. “During the last two years, they said they didn’t want us at the meetings anymore. They said they could read a budget and don’t need an explanation of what’s in it,” Rossetti told The Saugus Advocate. “They don’t want us here because we are a budget they have no control over,” he said. Rossetti said that had he been asked by the Finance Committee for an explanation of why the enrollment of Saugus students has been steadily declining, “I’d be happy to explain it any time.” So, what’s the reason? “Because Saugus has a new high school and kids are sticking in Saugus to go to the new school,” Rossetti said. “When we have a new Voke lar expansion. Many of the programs would be free of charge but could be limited by enrollment numbers,” it continued. “Some programs would require some charge for participation, but hopefully at a minimal rate.” The plan would allow for staffing and resources for activities at all levels in the town’s public education system. The funding would pay for the supervision, cleaning and service providers, as well as any resources for the given programming. A supervisor would oversee the programming and coordinate and schedule the offerings. Veterans Early Learning Programming for academic advancement, support and enrichment; suggested offerings include: Early Literacy Skills, Math Support Program, Lego Club, Arts and Craft Club, Fitness Activities and Music/ Movement. (This would occur for an hour and a half after school each day Monday– Thursday). TOWN MEETING | SEE PAGE 3 School, the numbers will go up,” Rossetti said. Northeast Metro Tech School Principal Carla Scuzzarella is a Saugus resident and Precinct 10 Town Meeting member. She has attended past Finance Committee meetings, but didn’t attend this year’s session. Saugus, with a recent enrollment listed at 126 students, accounts for 9.4 percent of the students that make up the 12 members of the Voke school district. With its total assessment of $2,621,975 for the 2025 fiscal year budget, Saugus contributes the fourth highest total to the school district’s $22,390,182 total assessment, which includes the total operating assessment and the capital/debt assessment. Saugus’ total assessment for the 2025 fiscal year ($2,621,975) is $1,917 more than the current fiscal year and includes $488,201 for the new school project, according to the Voke’s 2025 budget passed by the district School Committee on April 11. Saugus has about 5.7 percent of the eighth grade population of students in the school district, which is used to calculate the number of seats the town is entitled to, according to Rossetti.

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