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Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2022 The Sounds of Saugus By Mark E. Vogler The Superintendent’s Report Card Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Erin McMahon recently received her fi rst professional evaluation since being hired by the School Committee a little more than a year ago. For the average Saugonian watching the committee’s June 16 meeting, it can be diffi cult following the superintendent’s half-hour public evaluation without having the written document in front of you — unless you are familiar with the process. Rather than write a straightforward story about the evaluation segment of the meeting, we felt our readers would be better served if they were able to read highlights of the evaluation, with comments from each of the committee members who evaluated the superintendent. For this week’s issue, we decided to request copies of the evaluation — which included a composite evaluation and individual evaluations from the four committee members who interviewed the superintendent. In addition, we asked the superintendent for reaction to the evaluation. Her comments are included in our story. It’s important to point out that School Committee Member Leigh Gerow decided not to participate in the evaluation because she’s only been on the committee a short time. She joined the committee in May, fi lling the vacancy created when Committee Chair Thomas R. Whittredge resigned for personal reasons. Whittredge left offi ce before he could submit an evaluation. —Contest— CONTEST SKETCH OF THE WEEK The evaluation results really shouldn’t be a surprise to readers. The superintendent has received considerable support and praise from the committee during her fi rst year. Faced with some significant challenges in one of the state’s most underperforming school districts in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a massive reorganization involving curriculum and a consolidation from six schools into three, the superintendent had her work cut out in her very fi rst year. She received a “Profi cient” grade in each of the category standards. The highest possible grade she could receive is “Exemplary.” But the individual remarks refl ect the views of a committee that believes she is doing “a great job.” In his evaluation, School Committee Chair Vincent Serino notes that the superintendent needs improvement in several elements of Family and Community Engagement, specifi cally when it comes to sharing responsibility and communication with families and community stakeholders. In the category of Professional Culture, Serino also notes that the superintendent needs improvement in communication and also in managing confl ict. The superintendent has set lofty goals, including a fiveyear plan for Saugus Public Schools to rise from the bottom 10 percent of academically performing school districts to the top 10 percent in the state. With so much on her plate in her fi rst year, the areas where the School Committee has identifi ed as “needs improvement” shouldn’t be a major concern. GUESS WHO GOT SKETCHED? If you know the right answer, you might win the contest. In this week’s edition, we continue our weekly feature where a local artist sketches people, places and things in Saugus. Got an idea who’s being sketched this week? If you do, please email me at mvoge@comcast.net or leave a phone message at 978 683-7773. Anyone who identifi es the Saugonian sketched in this week’s paper between now and Tuesday at Noon qualifi es 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 certifi cate, compliments of Dunkin’ Donuts in the Food Court at the Saugus Square One Mall. But you have to enter to win! Look for the winner and identifi cation in next week’s “The Sounds of Saugus.” Please leave your mailing address in case you are a winner. (Courtesy illustration to The Saugus Advocate by a Saugonian who goes by the name of “The Sketch Artist”) But going forward, communication with the public, town officials, teachers, parents, students and others involved with Saugus Public Schools is crucial to the superintendent achieving her goals and for the betterment of public education in Saugus. Some of the School Committee members expressed concerns about the public evaluation process. But the committee voted to hire the superintendent on a fi ve-year contract that totals about a million dollars. The evaluation is necessary in order to hold the superintendent accountable. Used with future evaluations, it’s also a valuable tool to measure her overall performance, documenting her strengths and shortcomings and areas where she needs to improve. Evaluations by their nature, of course, are subjective. We leave it up to our readers to draw their own conclusions as to how well the superintendent is performing in her fi rst year of a fi ve-year plan. Back-to-School Countdown Hey, Saugus kids! Enjoy your summer while it lasts. Read a little. Have fun. Relax, because you only have about seven more weeks left until it’s back-to-school time! The 2022-23 School Year Calendar was recently posted on the Saugus Public Schools website. School begins Aug, 30 for students in grades 1 to 12. Kindergarten and Pre-K classes begin on Aug. 31. If you are interested in local places to visit to spice up your summer, go to the Saugus Public Library, the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, Breakheart Reservation, the Youth & Recreation Department or the Saugus Senior Center. Collectively, these places off er a lot of summertime options for Saugus residents. 2015 Student Records will be destroyed The Cumulative Record Folders for the Saugus High School Graduate Class of 2015 are scheduled for destruction on Aug. 1. Any 2015 Graduate of Saugus High School who wishes to obtain their records before they are destroyed, please email Kim Alba at kalba@saugus.k12.ma.us The pick-up dates and times will be given to you via email. Cruise Night Car Show for a Cause Guy Moley and Fuddruckers on Route 1 North in Saugus are at it again — organizing another fundraiser — this one being the Mom’s Cancer Fighting Angel’s Seventh Annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The Cruise Night Car Show is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday (July 17) at Fuddruckers on Route 1 North. The rain date is Sunday, July 24. If you like a few hours fi lled with cars, motorcycles, trucks, food, music, raffles and trophies, Guy says you should check it out. Or, call him for more information at 781-6401310. We have a winner! Congratulations to Cheryl Panico for making the right identification in last week’s “Guess Who Got Sketched?” Contest. She was one of several readers answering correctly. But she was the only one to have her name picked in a drawing from the green Boston Red Sox cap. Here’s the correct answer, offered by the person who goes by the name of The Sketch Artist: “The answer to last week’s sketch is Gene Decareau and his wife Arlene — who is the wind beneath Gene’s wings. “This couple extends themselves to Saugus in Countless ways. Company comes through the front door (that’s people who don’t know how to use the back door!) but friends they greet through a quaint country screened-in porch & beautifully landscaped gardens they tend to. Warmth exudes with smiles and a cold drink. “Gene and Arlene were the subject of a sketch in (Jan. 8th Saugus Advocate pg. 9), which includes a short bio in “We have a winner!” (January 15, 2021 page 5) “Gene is a member of the Saugus Lions Club and was awarded a “Dedicated Humanitarian Services” Award from the Lions Club. When people donate $50.00 or more to the Lions Club, Gene will often surprise the generous donor with a pie! “Gene has often baked pies for fund raisers and one time with a bid of $35.00, one gentleman of the Saugus Historical Society walked off with smiles and a pie he later claimed was worth it! “Often, Gene has people rolling in dough learning how to make pies. Gene graciously gives all his pie secrets & techniques. (Quite often Chefs give a little of their secrets and then hold back some.) Gene sets you up to succeed and enjoys seeing your progress. “Gene and Arlene talked about the many pie fillings and certain way the bananas are prepared for the bottom of Gene’s signature “Banana cream pie” “All Gene’s pie’s start with his meticulous care and abundance and are then topped with a fresh batch of his homemade whip cream! “This sketch Artist enjoyed pleasurable hospitality while making pies with his tips & secrets and saw major pie crust improvements! * Gene has been a Guest on Saugus Cable TV showing how to make pies. In the sketch depicted is Gene’s “secret ingredient“ Orange Juice which is shared freely. THE SOUNDS | SEE PAGE 13

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