School Department seeks Town Meeting approval of $1.2 million to help students whose education suffered from the pandemic

By Mark E. Vogler

Saugus Public Schools Superintendent Michael Hashem has filed nine articles for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting, seeking $1.2-million in the Supplemental Student Support Reserve Fund to help students recover from the social and academic setbacks of remote learning.

The School Department had come under criticism earlier in the year for not making better use of the fund, which had close to $4-million available back in February.

Hashem seeks Town Meeting approval of:

–$100,000 for the purchase of resources for English Language Learners to support after school hours and tutoring.

–$250,000 to support the Athletic Department in offering programing, tutoring and student study centers for school athletes.

–$150,000 for enrichment programming at the Belmonte STEAM Academy.

–$150,000 for enrichment programing at the Saugus Middle School.

–$50,000 for enrichment programing at the Veterans Early Learning Center.

–$100,000 for supporting Middle and High School students in offering a unified assessment and learning platform.

–$300,000 to provide services for students who have struggled to adjust to the school setting. This will pay for two specialists at the Belmonte STEAM Academy and the Veterans Early Learning Center.

–$100,000 to support High School students by offering tutoring and student study centers.

–$42,000 for elective programing at Saugus High School.

Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree introduced a warrant article to create the fund at a Special Town Meeting in the fall of 2022. It was approved by Town Meeting members.

Crabtree said that then-Gov. Charlie Baker provided additional monies in Chapter 70 funds for public school, amounting to about $3-million for Saugus Public Schools. This money would allow for a variety of educational programs in the school district which are not currently covered by the School Department’s operating budget.

Precinct 10 Town Meeting Member Manoogian, a retired educator and former Saugus School Committee member, did some groundwork on the article that Crabtree authored in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary focus of the fund was to help students whose education suffered from the pandemic.