THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, June 28, 2019 Page 5 SHAME | FROM PAGE 4 ing company due to the substantial savings accrued that will be applied to a multifaceted plan to restore and create new educational programs and to continue impact bargaining over separation and termination on June 30, 2019 based upon our discussion today.” Gaieski, School Committee Chair Jeannie Meredith and Marc Magliozzi voted in favor of the motion to privatize custodial services. Lisa Morgante and Elizabeth Marchese – the two committee members who questioned the validity of the Executive Session in interviews with The Saugus Advocate earlier this month – voted against the privatization proposal. Open Meeting Law complaint The May 8 Executive Session is the subject of an Open Meeting Law complaint by The Saugus Advocate. The committee convened in secret session without a proper statutory purpose stated on the agenda notice for what was discussed and apparently voted on. Committee members intended to meet in the Executive Session “for the purpose of Collective Bargaining with the Custodians and the Superintendent’s Contract,” according to the agenda notice for the meeting. Instead, a discussion involving the committee and DeRuosi reportedly focused on how the School Department could save money by privatizing custodial services. Apparently, some kind of vote was taken, which led to the hiring of a company to replace the custodians. There should have been public discussion and action taken in public if the School Committee and the superintendent wanted to replace the 21 school custodians with a private company, the newspaper contended in its Open Meeting Law complaint. School Committee members approved the minutes for the May 8 Executive Session, but did not make them available following Wednesday’s meeting. Beyond reading the motion, the members didn’t explain the reasons why privatization would be in the best interests of the School Department. They left the meeting room abruptly without answering reporters’ questions. Morgante and Marchese have previously complained that there hasn’t been a thorough study done explaining the need for privatization of custodial services and how it will benefit the school district. Several members in the audience expressed outrage at the School Committee vote to privatize custodial services. Former School Committee Member Arthur Grabowski called members “cowards.” “See you in November. See you in November,” Grabowski yelled at the committee as the meeting ended. Elementary School custodian Bill Moore – who has been Olivia’s favorite custodian – tried to comfort her as she sobbed over the committee vote. Jim Durkin, the legislative director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 93, predicted that the School Committee members who voted for privatization of custodial services would have difficulty getting reelected in the town’s fall elections. “There are 4,063 union household members in Saugus,” Durkin said in an interview after the meeting. “We’re going to make sure that every single one of them is aware of what transpired here today. Every time something goes wrong with privatization – and it will – we’ll tell the members,” he said. “What the School Committee and the superintendent have done today is hand over the keys to Saugus Public Schools to complete strangers. They have replaced known and respected custodians with a cleaning crew with unknown histories and unknown backgrounds. And they will all live to regret it. We’re going to make sure people never forget who owns this,” he said. FACING THE PUBLIC: Left to right, School Committee Members Lisa Morgante, Linda Gaieski, Chair Jeannie Meredith, Vice-Chair Elizabeth Marchese and Marc Magliozzi after their 3-2 vote on Wednesday morning to replace the 21 school custodians with a private company. SKATING CENTER www.Roller-World.com | 781-231-1111 ATM on site Located Adjacent to Rite Aid Pharmacy in Saugus Plaza, South Bound Route 1 MBTA Bus Route 429 FREE WI-FI - 2 WIDE SCREEN TV’S FULLY AIR CONDITIONED SUMMER SKATING SCHEDULE ATTENTION! Begins June 30 Sunday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 12-6 p.m. $7.50 Monday & Tuesday 7:30-10:30 p.m. $8.50 12-8 p.m. $7.50 Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 12-4 p.m. $7.50 11 a.m.-11 p.m. $7.50 Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 12-11 p.m. $7.50 Admission after 6 p.m. $8.50 Skates included in price/Blades $3 Bowling Alleys, 2 snack bars, video games. Ice cream shop, 2 skating floors (group rates call ahead) Private parties every day. BIRTHDAY PARTIES $11.50/Person, min. of 10 kids. 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