Library v. School, and School Wins

June 12, 2008 - 9:21am — birdie

A battle over books broke out at Saugus MA Town Meeting on Monday, pitting the library against the struggling school system.

In the end, the schools won out, receiving an unexpected $75,000, while the library budget was cut by the same amount, according to the Boston Globe. The additional funding for the schools will be used to hire two reading teachers at the elementary level.

"The $75,000 would make it possible for people to keep working in the library, and back up the reading programs in the schools," said resident Martha Clouse. "It will bring us a step closer to recertification."
Town Meeting member Barbara Malone, a former School Committee chairwoman, countered that the schools must produce strong readers.

"What is the point of having a library serving children who can't read?" she said. "I'd just like you to think about that."