THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2021 Page 3 ASKS | FROM PAGE 2 vere/Saugus line. We took immediate preventative measures to address the issue and, working with the State delegation, sent a message to the Mayor of Boston that this wasn’t the answer to Boston’s problem. I hope the plan that the new Mayor of Boston initiates takes care of moving those affected into a facility that helps them and gives them the care and services they need. It was great to see everyone work together. Selectman Mike Serino: I believe the Covid virus was the top 2021 Town story this year, as it has been around the world. Our residents have been hit significantly with the virus. Our administration has been doing the best we can by putting in place the proper procedures and equipment in order to protect everybody in town. Thank God, to date, I have not contracted the virus. I try to be very diligent in protecting myself by getting my vaccine shots and wearing a mask when I enter a store. On a personal note, the passing of close colleagues whom I have known and worked with for over twenty years has been hard. Steve Horlick, Wendy Reed and Greg Nicholas. School Committee ViceChair Vincent Serino: I believe the top town story of the year is and has been the Covid-19 pandemic. We have lost many great people from Saugus and around the world this year to the pandemic and many more were ill from the virus. We continue to struggle with Covid’s effects and how we go about our day-today life. As a School Committee member, I look back on how the educators and support staff have worked through these trying times. They all First, was the finishing of Veterans Early Learning Center, Belmonte STEAM Academy and Saugus Middle High School and transitioning all the students and teachers into a new three school system. This was a huge effort startEMBRACING A NEW ERA FOR SAUGUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS: In a year fraught with challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the town reelected these four members, who are pictured from left to right: School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge and Members Joseph “Dennis” Gould, John Hatch and Ryan Fisher. Despite the COVID-19 challenges, they look on 2021 as a year of great accomplishment – moving into a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, consolidating into three school buildings and hiring a new superintendent, Erin McMahon, who has set lofty goals for student achievement. (Saugus Advocate file photo by Mark E. Vogler) had the same focus and resolve, to get the students of Saugus through the pandemic and keep them learning. The administration and educators and staff have done a phenomenal job of keeping the students engaged and active in learning, as well as keeping them safe in the classroom and school events. As we look back on this year and look forward to the next, let us always remember the first responders and teachers who keep us safe and educated during these trying times. I am sure this too will pass and when it does, let’s remember those who we have lost and those who helped us along the way. School Committee Member Ryan Fisher: The hopeful, positive side of me says the top news story is that Saugus schools are back. We began the year still in remote learning, but through vaccines and the test and stay program, our schools and classrooms opened safely, and stayed open. We have kids in front of teachers every day, we’ve made big progress on restoring Kids Come First and bus service, all day kindergarten is now free and Superintendent McMahon, her team and all the teachers and staff are doing amazing work helping students not only recover from the pandemic, but raise achievement. That news story that we ended hybrid learning and went back full time was just the start of good things to come. I’m also reminded today how many residents Saugus lost in the past year. It wasn’t a single news story or on a single day, but ending the year, it’s notable who was here with us at the beginning, who we miss deeply today. They’ll never be forgotten, but we will make them proud. School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould: In my opinion, we had two top stories for 2021 for the Saugus School District and Town of Saugus. ed by the previous School Committee led by Jeannie Meredith, that got the Saugus School District to the point of having all new and/or refurbished schools, new computers, state of the art learning aids and what I believe is a new sense of pride in our District. I am confident all the work to get us to this point and launch the three school system will enhance the learning experience for all students and will show academic measurement improvements in the next couple of years plus will assist us to address many of the deficiencies and/or improvements needed listed in the State DESE report. The second top story in School District and Town I believe was the hiring of Ms Erin McMahon, as School Superintendent to lead the district forward. With the opportunity ahead of us with the new three school system, having all students and teachers from the same grade in one school and with the vision and leadership of Ms McMahon, I am very confident we will enhance all students educational experience and opportunities. The future under Ms McMahon looks bright, and we are shooting for the moon! School Committee Member John Hatch: I think obviously the top story of the year was the pandemic and how the entire town and every department came together to take care of the town’s people. As far as the school district, our ASKS | SEE PAGE 4
4 Publizr Home