SAUGUS Vol. 22, No. 23 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Congratulations SHS Class of 2019 ADVOCATE Published Every Friday Hats off to the Class of 2019 781-233-4446 Friday, June 7, 2019 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Are the Saugus Public Schools better off with or without the 21 custodians who work in the schools? FANCY MORTARBOARDS: Saugus High School graduates Nathan Gibbs and Megan Wildman (left to right) celebrate family and future college education respectfully. Nathan will attend North Shore Community College while Megan plans to study next fall at Bridgewater State University. See pages 10-14, and 20 for photo highlights. (Saugus Advocate Photos by Mark E. Vogler) Town Meeting passes budget But Superintendent sends mixed message on $1 million–plus in funds for custodians for FY 2020 By Mark E. Vogler T he $29.6 million School Department operating budget approved Monday night by Town Meeting includes more than a million dollars that would pay the salaries of 24 full-time custodians. But Superintendent Dr. David DeRuosi, Jr. won’t say whether those funds will be cut to balance the $188,000 shortfall between what he requested and what Saugus Public Schools will receive. The superintendent won’t confirm whether custodian jobs will even exist when the 2020 fiscal year beBUDGET | SEE PAGE 7 THE DECISION MAKERS: School Committee members at last Friday’s Saugus High School Commencement Exercises: left to right: Lisa Morgante, School Committee Vice-Chair Elizabeth Marchese, School Committee Chair Jeannie Meredith and Linda Gaieski. Missing is Committee Member Marc Magliozzi. The five members will decide later this month whether to keep the 21 school custodians or replace them with a private custodial maintenance service. (Saugus Advocate Photo by Mark E. Vogler) Editor’s Note: For this week, we decided to put some questions to the Saugus School Committee and the public about the fate of the 21 custodians whose jobs are in jeopardy because of pending plans by the school administration to replace them with a private custodial service. The process has been a secretive one, being conducted behind closed doors. The school administration argues that since they are involved in collective bargaining, they can’t talk about it. True, to the extent you are talking about salaries, benefits, personnel and bargaining issues. But, as far as the rationale for this rush to privatize custodians at a time that a number of communities have soured on privatized custodial services and have gone back to or are considering bringing back custodians, several questions beg to be asked. We wanted to devote this week’s “The Advocate Asks” to the School Committee members’ response. But because some of the members ASKS | SEE PAGE 2 ~ Home of the Week ~ ANGELO’S FULL "Over 40 Years of Excellence!" 1978-2019 Regular Unleaded $2.399 Mid Unleaded $2.799 Super $2.899 Diesel Fuel $2.839 KERO $4.759 Diesel $2.699 SERVICE HEATING OIL 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS • OPEN 7 DAYS SAUGUS...Nicely located 6 room Colonial offers 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, living room and dining room combination - great open floor plan, eat-in kitchen with slider to bright and sunny sunroom, updated full bath (2009), mudroom, level lot, located on side street between Saugus Center and Cliftondale Square. Great opportunity to own!! Offered at $379,900 335 Central Street, Saugus, MA 01906 (781) 233-7300 View the interior of this home right on your smartphone. View all our listings at: CarpenitoRealEstate.com Prices subject to change FLEET
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