SAUGUS — The Finance Committee met Wednesday night in the Town Hall Auditorium, a larger venue requested to accommodate the large crowd that showed up in support of the School Committee’s recommended $37,606,374 budget for FY27.

Committee Chair Kenneth DePatto asked that the audience follow the meeting’s policies and procedures and remain respectful.

The rules for the meeting stated that Superintendent Michael Hashem would speak about the budget and answer questions from the Committee. Once the discussion was complete, School Committee members would each have three minutes to speak. Following the School Committee, one parent, one student, one teacher, and one principal would each represent their respective groups and speak to the budget.

No vote was to be taken at the meeting.

“Everybody in this room is dedicated toward the students,” Hashem began. “I’m here to express the needs of our schools and advocate for those students. There’s been a lot of work done to address the needs of our schools while keeping the costs as reasonable as possible.”

Hashem explained that the student body is very different from what it was years ago, with students who have much more complex needs.

He then explained his key points, including working on a strategic budget review, a deep dive into the budget, and a process to identify inefficiencies and efficiencies. Another key point was working to put resources in the right places and to ensure that budget allocations align with student needs and outcomes.

“We’re going to be working to develop a long-term budget plan of one year, three years, and five years and have it be ready to pivot and change as necessary,” Hashem said.

Hashem highlighted the importance of fostering better collaboration among the school, the town, and the Finance Committee.

“There is an impact if the budget’s underfunded. That is crowded classrooms. We have classrooms right now that are on the larger side that we’d like to get smaller, but at the same time, right now we’re working on efficiencies to have instructional support in those classrooms,” he said.

DePatto asked Hashem to provide the average class size, and Hashem said he would send it to him in the morning.

Hashem also pointed out the importance of addressing all students’ needs and that the enrollment data showed that the number of English Language Learners, English Not First Language Learners, students on 504s and IEPs, and “a tremendous amount of economically disadvantaged students” was higher than in years past. Added to this was the current mental health crisis.

He also pointed out that educators are being asked to do more with less, which can become very complex.

School Committee Chair Tom Whittredge was the first to speak after Hashem.

“First, I want to thank the Finance Committee… Looking around the room, we have a lot of people that really care what goes on with these schools, and it’s good to see… I am asking that you guys support the manager’s recommendation of supporting the full budget… We need one (a budget) that protects the quality of education and ensures every student’s opportunity to succeed,” he said.

Whittredge continued that they’re trying to give the kids the best education they can without harming the other town departments.

Committee member Brian Doherty, who was once on the town’s Finance Committee and is the chair of the school’s finance subcommittee, came up next to show his support for the budget.

“I know a lot of what I’ve been saying comes from my years of sitting with Kenny and the Finance Committee… Part of what we’ll look at once we have a good number is that one, three, five-year projection,” he said.

Doherty also spoke about the importance of long-term budget projections, getting back to the Finance Committee, and keeping people posted on changes throughout the year.

“First of all, I’d like to say I’m glad that you guys are looking at the $2.8 million increase to level service… Secondly, I love the collaboration starting to happen in the Town of Saugus… I just wanted to touch on a couple of things. Even if you guys approve the $2.8 million, there’s still some stuff we lost last year,” Committee member Dennis Gould said.

He spoke about the classroom’s full capacity and the need for more support, especially for young students learning the basics.

Committee member Shannon McCarthy said, “I implore you to review this, dig in, and approve what it is that we need. I will share one stat with you that was eye-opening to me. I am a parent in this community first and foremost… 68% of our student population represents high needs, and those needs come along with costs. And it is not the same to educate students as it was years ago… We have time to dig into one, three, and five years, the kids in the community don’t, and we have to do the right thing by that now.”

Sara Petruzzelli, who has been an outspoken parent in town, stood next to speak, thanking the Finance Committee for the work it has done over the years to make Saugus fiscally strong.

“As a parent, I truly had no idea until this coming year what the situation, as far as school funding, looked like because the educators that are here today have done such a good job helping me take care of my kids… I think that as a town and as a community, we deserve to give them everything that they can and more than that. The kids deserve a foundation to launch off of in Saugus,” Petruzzelli said.

Kevin Fontanella, president of the Saugus Educators Association, was next to speak.

“I do agree strongly with the chair of the School Committee’s comments that our one goal here, both on the superintendent’s side, the School Committee’s side, and the teachers in Saugus, is to improve the educational system of Saugus,” he said.

Fontanella pointed out comments made in town about doing more with less, stating that a strong budget was needed to improve education in town. He also noted the large number of high-needs students who require additional services to achieve educational outcomes.

“We fully recognize that we, as teachers, as paraprofessionals, all the staff here, will do the work and do everything to improve the education of Saugus. But we need your help. We need the town’s help… The bottom line is it is time to unite the town and schools together so we’re on the same page,” he said.

Last to speak was Saugus Middle High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella.

“It’s wonderful to see the collaboration that has begun to take root. It is greatly appreciated. I know that my two colleagues at the elementary schools would say that all of us worked really hard to support our staff, but more importantly, we’re always trying to do what’s best for our students, our most precious resource in this town… We would advocate obviously for you to please fund the budget fully. It’s very important,” she said.

A motion was made to end the meeting, and DePatto thanked everyone for following decorum.