“We are thrilled to expand our Saugus family”

Supt. Michael Hashem said 20 new staff members and “two dynamic assistant principals” will help Saugus Public Schools achieve a successful year in many ways

  (Editor’s Note: We reached out to Saugus Public Schools Supt. Michael Hashem to get his views on the school district’s goals, challenges, concerns and expectations as he prepares for the 2026-27 school year when classes begin next Wednesday, September 2. His response follows.)

As we gear up for a fantastic new school year in Saugus, there is so much energy and anticipation in the air! Our journey begins on Monday, August 31st with an opening professional development day for our staff, followed by our favorite day of the year; welcoming students back to the classroom on Wednesday, September 2nd. Please note that schools will be closed on Friday, September 4th and Monday, September 7th to allow families to enjoy a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

We are thrilled to expand our Saugus family this fall. Joining us are around twenty new staff members, along with two dynamic new assistant principals: Frank Kowalski at the high school and Amanda O’Brien at the Belmonte STEAM Academy.

Our commitment to student growth is stronger than ever. Our enrichment programs are fully up and running, thoughtfully refined with a sharp focus on academic support and success. We are expanding tutoring services across the Middle High School Complex for all students, including those participating in extracurricular activities. To ensure every child thrives, we are also offering specialized tutoring for our English Learners both during and after the school day.

To keep raising the bar, we are launching a new assessment platform for grades 6 through 12 across ELA, math, science, and social studies. At the elementary level we are adding an additional assessment to Grade 3 this year. By establishing clear baseline and benchmark data, our educators will use dedicated new planning blocks to track progress closely and tailor daily instruction to every student’s unique needs. These results will be shared publicly by each building principal to the School Committee at a meeting three times during the school year. Individual student assessment results will also be made available to students and their families following the administration of each assessment.

We would like to especially thank the Town Manager, the members of our School Committee, the Finance Committee, and our town meeting members for fully funding our schools; as well as the entire Saugus community for their support. This has enabled us to truly focus on student learning and provide our students the best services possible.

We cannot wait to open our doors and partner with our families, staff, and community members to make this school year extraordinary. Together, let’s continue to make Saugus Someplace Special!