~ Letter to the Editor ~ Saugus Town Meeting Update: School Finance Subcommittee – A Step in the Right Direction!

Dear Editor:

On Thursday night, March 26, I had the pleasure of attending the School Department Finance Subcommittee meeting, and I left genuinely encouraged by what I saw.

–A Fresh Approach.

In the past, this subcommittee consisted of school committee members, the superintendent and the school finance director. While well-intentioned, that structure often led to reactive conversations driven by budget constraints rather than proactive, forward-thinking planning. That changes now.

The subcommittee now includes parent representatives – and that matters. Getting that community perspective woven into the planning process is exactly the kind of inclusion we need.

What also stood out was Brian Doherty’s clear fit leading this effort. He brings a rare combination to the table: School Committee member, parent, finance professional, AND former Finance Committee member. That last piece is particularly important as the School Department prepares to present and defend their budget before FinComm in the coming weeks. He understands both sides of that table, and that will be invaluable.

–The Roadmap – Why It Matters

  Beyond the immediate budget cycle, this subcommittee is committed to developing a 1, 3 and 5-year roadmap for the School Department. This is a game changer. For too long there has been a siloing effect between the School Department, the Town Manager, the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting. Without a clear, well-communicated plan, conversations get stuck on a single dollar figure rather than the full story behind it.

That disconnect has real consequences. Right now there is a $1.5 million gap between what our schools need to simply maintain their current level of service and what the town is offering. Let that sink in – we’re not even talking about growth or improvement yet. We’re talking about standing still.

–My Ask

When I spoke at the meeting, I made a simple but important request: acknowledge that our school leaders are masters of their craft – and then take it one step further. We need to establish a common language and shared context between the School Department, FinComm, the BOS, the Town Manager, and Town Meeting members. Not everyone involved fully understands the complexity of operating a school system, and that knowledge gap fuels the disconnect.

–The Bottom Line

Our schools should be the pride of Saugus – not viewed as an underperforming cost center that isn’t getting the support it needs and deserves. This roadmap and the work being done by this subcommittee is how we begin to change that narrative: building alignment, trust, and a shared vision across town government so that year over year, we can make meaningful progress forward.

I’m cautiously optimistic. The right people are in the room, the right conversations are starting, and the community deserves to know about it. Stay tuned.

Joe DiFilippo

Saugus Town Meeting Member, Precinct 4