School Committee Shifts $19,456 to Special Ed Buses

School Committee · Meeting of June 25, 2026

Saugus School Committee moves $19,456 in payroll savings to cover a special-ed transportation shortfall. Business Administrator Paula Andrews said student move-ins at the beginning of the year drove the overrun; the transfer passed 4-0. Member Brian Doherty's cost-efficiency questions dominated the night, from a renegotiated copier lease after the district ran nearly 18,000 copies over its annual limit, to possible minibus purchases at $107,000 to $108,000 each that Athletic Director Matt Serino said could save roughly $400 per trip over chartered buses.

"It's embarrassing to us because if we don't do these small, simple things right, how are we going to get the big things right?" Doherty said of the paper shortages. The committee honored four Educators of the Year and six retiring staff, approved a $1,845 PTO donation for Veterans Early Learning Center field trips, and tabled a $2,500 Belmonte STEAM Academy gift pending clarification of its purpose.

In the full story:

• Chair's Report and Graduation Recognitions
• Superintendent's Report
• Educator of the Year and Retirements
• Budget Amendment No. 4: Special Education Transportation
• FY27 Cost-Efficiency Review: Doherty's Seven Questions
• Approvals: Music Trip, Minutes and Donations
• Public Comment and Member Comments
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,946 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of June 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.