6

Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, OCTObEr 17, 2025 EIGHT CANDIDATES | FROM PAGE 5 nuity in our district’s leadership. With Saugus experiencing six superintendent changes in twelve years, I recognize the urgent need for effective succession planning to prevent leadership gaps. I intend to work closely with the superintendent and fellow committee members to establish a clear vision, set strategic priorities, and identify future leaders for key positions. This approach will provide reassurance for our community teachers and administration and guarantee smooth transitions when changes occur. I am committed to upholding accountability by regularly providing progress reports to the town, educators, and administration. Through transparent communication, I strive to promote constructive improvements within our schools. Our staff are our greatest strength, so by remaining proactive rather than reactive, we can minimize disruptions and keep making steady improvements. Andrew Finn, a parent of a child in the Saugus Public Schools: The biggest challenge facing the next Saugus School Committee is rebuilding trust through openness and clear communication about how our schools are doing and how resources are used. Parents and residents hear that our schools are “funded,” yet they also see classrooms stretched thin and test results that have not fully recovered since the pandemic. Both can be true. The town has kept some financial breathing room in its budgets over the past several years—there has been money left under the PALOMBA | FROM PAGE 3 lies can enjoy for generations. By combining careful planning, community input, and thoughtful upgrades, I will ensure that our precinct continues to be a safe, beautiful, and welcoming place for all residents.” “I am committed to creating a Saugus where history, tax limit and positive balances at the end of each year— while student achievement has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. If elected, I will work to make our decisions and data clear for every family in Saugus. My priorities are: 1. Full transparency. Publish a simple, public dashboard that shows where the money goes, what changes were made, and what outcomes follow—without complicated charts or financial terms. 2. Evidence-based advocacy. Use that data to show the community what is working, where the gaps remain, and make the case for changes that directly benefit students and teachers. 3. Support for educators. Teachers and staff are doing all they can with the resources they have. The committee’s job is to make sure they have the tools, time, and backing they need to focus on teaching. 4. Consistent communication. Share clear summaries after every school committee meeting so families can understand what decisions were made and why. I bring both a parent’s perspective—my daughter is in first grade at the Veterans Early Learning Center— and a problem-solver’s mindset from my background in quantitative work. My goal is to make sure every decision we make in Saugus schools is understandable, transparent, and focused on giving students the best possible education. Joseph “Dennis” Gould, a former Saugus School Committee member: I believe the biggest challenge for Saugus School District is adequate funding in line to support the District nature, and community come together. Our precinct is home to unique landmarks and open spaces that strengthen our town’s identity, promote family engagement, and provide safe, accessible areas for everyone.” If re-elected, I will continue to: - Preserve our town’s rich history while planning responsibly for its future vision, curriculum, student transportation and Teacher Staffing. The past budget cycle, School District received over one Million $ less than the detailed bottoms up that Teachers, Administrators, Principals, Directors and Superintendent recommended, approved by School Committee and presented to the Town Manager. This resulted in the loss of five grade 2-5 Teachers, causing one less class per grade increasing our class sizes, and a Librarian, causing MSHS Library to be closed, the lack of funding for stand by lists for potential added bus, other reductions and shifting of School resources. In my opinion, grades 2-5 are the most important grades for building students the base they need for success in Junior and High School. With the added costs for new Vocational School, potential third fire station, added fire staffing and continued cost of inflation for the normal operational costs and facilities, the Town has a lot on its plate to match any increase of revenue with Town and School needs. It is important to work early on in budget process with Town Manager as well, because even though the School District may complete due diligence to come up with detailed budget, it is the Town Manager who then reviews Town and School budgets and comes up with what he recommends for the School Budget. In recent history, Town Manager has recommended a million $ or more less than School Committee approved budget, and that is what is presented to Selectmen, Finance Committee and Town Meeting. Once it goes to Town Meeting, it is almost impossible to increase School Budget be- Protect and enhance our green spaces and neighborhood safety - Support our seniors, veterans, and working families - Encourage transparency, unity, and collaboration in all local matters - Foster pride, connection, and civic involvement across our precinct Saugus residents can contincause you must show and have Town Meeting vote on what would be lowered from the Town Budget side to offset School increase or identify other revenues to cover the increase. Arthur Grabowski, a former Saugus School Committee member: The biggest challenge facing the next school committee is how to balance the budget. This is not a problem unique to this year alone but every year trying to balance the budget is an exercise that requires countless hours of meetings and conversations with all stakeholders to get the maximum “bang for the buck” with the funds that the town allocates for the operation of the Saugus Public schools. It goes without saying that not too many local school committees are satisfied with the funds that their local town or city allocate to them to operate their school districts. As we all experience in the day to day running of our own personal finances, fixed costs and inflation take a bigger chunk out of our paychecks every year. Our school district has very little control over these costs. The bigger cost center that we have to deal with are contractual obligations. These costs account for approximately 85% of the total school budget leaving very little discretionary funds available to be allocated to improving student achievement or to reducing user fees. Contractual obligations that the next school committee will be facing will be funding of the teacher contract, clerical contract, paraprofessional contract as well contracts of personnel that are not covered by collective bargaining. As my experience in the private sector has taught me we have to learn how “to do more with less”. Unfortunately this is a fact we have to deal with in our personal lives as well as within the operation of the Saugus School district...many hard and in some cases unpleasant decisions will have to be made. An example of this is the school bussing issue that we will most certainly be dealing with in the coming months. Finally there is a huge “elephant still lurking in the back of the room”.....how to fund the arbitration award that is still outstanding concerning the termination of a past superintendent....this figure grows daily as interest is being tacked on for every day that the award is still outstanding... Stephanie Mastrocola, incumbent Saugus School Committee member: The biggest challenge facing the next School Committee will certainly be the budget. That being said the budget goes hand in hand with staffing. How are we going to balance out the increased classroom sizes? Teachers and staff are saying they need more support in the classroom. We need to collaborate together and come up with a plan that will help ease the stress of a day in the classroom. We will have to look at the budget closely and make sure it matches what we are trying to accomplish. If we don’t then what’s the point of asking for more money or support if we can’t prove it’s doing the trick? Test scores are a way to measure, but do we truly believe that’s what reflects a school in its true value? They are an important measuring tool for our staff but with all the incomEIGHT CANDIDATES| SEE PAGE 8 ue looking toward the future with confidence and progress, knowing that through teamwork, compassion, and commitment, we can make our community stronger than ever. I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me over the years, and I respectfully ask for your support and your vote in the 2025 Saugus Election for Town Meeting Member, Precinct 1. Together, we can preserve our history, strengthen our community, and build a brighter future for all who call Saugus home. I am #1 on the ballot. With heartfelt gratitude, Assunta “Sue” Palomba Candidate for Town Meeting Member – Precinct 1, Saugus Election 2025

7 Publizr Home