WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017 Saugus school magic number: $900,000 Imagine a By Bridget Turcotte parklet like ITEM STAFF this for Central SAUGUS — The closure of the Ballard Early Edu- Square. cation Center is among the ITEM PHOTO | proposed cuts to help bridge OWEN O’ROURKE a potential $900,000 budget gap. By Thomas Grillo retail to world class destination. Should the building have ITEM STAFF “Our students who came to Lynn from to close its doors, the pro- Lynn has around the globe were changed,” said Ed- gram would move to other LYNN — It might be one of the region’s ward Mitchell, a Yale School of Architecture public school facilities, said best known ditties: professor. “For the better.” Superintendent Dr. David “Lynn, Lynn the city of sin, You never come DeRuosi. designs on The Lynn Museum and MassDevelop- out the way you came in.” “My worst case scenario is ment’s TDI Partnership hosted the exhibit on paper right now,” DeRuosi That phrase inspired a team of students Tuesday titled “Visions of Lynn,” a display and faculty from two architectural schools to said. LYNN, A7 The School Committee vot- its future re-imagine the city’s waterfront from gritty ed a $29.6 million budget but the Finance Committee is supporting Town Manag- er Scott Crabtree’s recom- Peabody mendation for $1.6 million less. After making adjust- ments to the department’s wants critical needs, DeRuosi said the district would still face a $900,000 shortfall. Town to just Meeting will vote on the budget May 1. At a meeting Tuesday, he say no proposed cuts that includ- ed closing the center and By Adam Swift not replacing seven retiring ITEM STAFF employees, six teachers and a nurse, and cutting one el- PEABODY — Last No- ementary school teacher. Six vember’s vote to legalize paraprofessional positions recreational marijuana would also be eliminated to in the state has created save the district between a haze for state and local $98,000 and $114,000. legislators. The Ballard Early Edu- As the state legislature cation Center has several works through the details curriculum-based preschool of the legalization process, classes, about ve of which the Peabody City Council are integrated classes of is taking a three-pronged both regular and special ed- approach to pot sales in ucation. DeRuosi proposed the city. Thursday night, relocating the more self-con- the council’s legal affairs tained classes to Saugus committee is slated to dis- High School and the more cuss proposed language inclusive classes to Veter- for a zoning amendment ans Memorial Elementary that would place a mora- School. This year the school torium on recreational pot has 118 children, though sales in the city until June some are half-day and part- 30, 2018. time students. Moving the “We have to make sure program would save the dis- that the decisions we trict between $140,000 and Animal magnetism make will be legal,” said $145,000, he said. Joel Saslaw, the council “When you’re spending president. If the morato- over $1 million on 45 stu- rium goes into effect, Sa- dents, you have to look at at Lynn Museum slaw said it will give the how you can do that more ef- council time to see how ciently,” said Chairwoman By Gayla Cawley animal program, featuring curious Isaiah Butler, 7, of other legalization efforts Jeannie Meredith. ITEM STAFF creatures such as a tortoise, snakes, Lynn gets to touch play out on the state and DeRuosi also questioned a tarantula, ying squirrel, chinchilla a North American local levels. whether two retiring custo- LYNN — Free Fun Family Day at the and a little alligator. alligator during the In addition to the mora- Lynn Museum gave children a chance dians needed to be replaced “That’s always a hit,” Marshall said. Curious Creatures torium, the council is also to enhance their time off from school by and whether a currently open Conor Poverchuk, 7, said he liked presentation at moving forward with the position needed to be lled. interacting with animals and growing the animals, speci cally, the “little, establishment of a medi- their own grass plants on Tuesday. Lynn Museum on DeRuosi added that as a tiny turtles.” Tuesday. For cal marijuana sales zone Judith Marshall, education and re- along Route 1 and a ballot long-term goal, the master Jayla Walsh, 7, said she liked the more photos, see plan includes having few- search specialist at Lynn Museum, referendum seeking the “crocodile” because he had sharp teeth. pages A3, A7. er school buildings. He and said the museum usually holds one Martine Georges came with her chil- outright prohibition of rec- free family day a quarter, which typ- reational marijuana sales. School Committee members dren, Nailah, 6, and Isaiah, 9. ITEM PHOTO | SPENSER HASAK shared a vision that high ically have themes. Tuesday’s theme “I’m off work and the kids are on The council is meeting school juniors and seniors was Earth Day. She said the event is school vacation,” Georges said. “I love with the Planning Board could take child develop- a great way to get all sorts of people to it here anyways so we came to have a in May to discuss the zon- ment courses and volunteer come into the museum. good time.” ing change allowing for in classrooms to help pre- Residents were invited to come to Nailah Georges said the “crocodile” the medical marijuana pare them to pursue degrees the museum for free for arts and crafts was her favorite, also because she sale. Currently, medical in elds such as social work activities, such as coloring and word liked the sharp teeth. She also enjoyed marijuana sales are pro- and education. searches. Kids could grow their own planting grass. hibited in Peabody. grass plant and decorate their pots. SAUGUS, A7 Children were also treated to a live CREATURES, A7 PEABODY, A7 INSIDE Federal loan paves the way for Malden streets In Lynn BOSTON — The U.S. Department “This loan guarantee is one of the provide seed money or to simply boost Kennedy says of Housing and Urban Development most successful investment tools that con dence private rms and individ- city is safe in shooting’s (HUD) Tuesday announced it is ap- HUD offers to local governments to uals may need to invest in distressed aftermath. A3 proving a $2.4 million loan guarantee help strengthen their communities,” areas. In Sports to Malden to help the city x roads said Kristine Foye, HUD New England In addition to main replacements, St. Mary’s damaged by water main replacement Deputy Regional Administrator. the city works with the Massachu- softball ring on work. HUD’s Section 108 Loan Guarantee setts Water Resources Authority to all cylinders. B1 After determining 39 percent of its Assistance Program enables local gov- sample water for lead levels twice an- water mains were 100 years old or ernments to borrow money at reduced nually. Fifteen homes were picked for In Food older, Malden in 2011 began replacing interest rates to promote economic de- samples in 2016 and tests found water Try some of Rosalie’s mains. With miles of streets in need of velopment, stimulate job growth and tested was in excess above a de ned caramel bread repairs following the pipe work, Mal- improve public facilities. “action level.” pudding. B8 den launched a road reconstruction Such public investment is often need- project and turned to HUD for help. ed to inspire private contributions; to LOAN, A7 OBITUARIES ..............................A2 POLICE/FIRE .............................A6 COMICS/DIVERSIONS ........... B4-5 HIGH 52° VOL. 139, ISSUE 114 LYNN .........................................A3 LOOK! .......................................A8 CLASSIFIED ........................... B6-7 LOW 45° OPINION ...................................A4 SPORTS ................................ B1-3 FOOD ........................................B8 PAGE A8 ONE DOLLAR A2 THE DAILY ITEM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017 OBITUARIES Jean Montess, 90 Malden superintendent in line 1926-2017 SWAMPSCOTT — Chapel in Peabody. for bonus if schools improve Mrs. Jean (Douglas) The Holy Rosary was Montess, 90 years, of her solace. Above all By Steve Freker im Superintendent Dr. ademic performance under committee members said Swampscott, died un- she loved her family. FOR THE ITEM Charles Grandson IV at his watch as headmaster. during the search and in- expectedly on Thurs- She is survived by the close of the school year. “We are very pleased to terviews that boosting rat- day, April 6, 2017 in her daughter, Susan MALDEN — New- Oteri was selected over have John Oteri aboard ings was a priority. a local nursing home. J. (Montess) Dun- ly-hired Malden School four other finalists April as superintendent of the If Malden rises from She had been living at leavy and husband Superintendent John 3 in a search by the Mal- Malden Public Schools Level 3 to Level 2 during her home in Swamp- Justin (Judd); and Oteri will get a $5,000- den School Committee. and we know that he can’t his tenure, Oteri will re- scott independently her grandsons, Justin 10,000 salary bonus if A formal agreement on a wait to get started,” Mayor ceive a bonus of $5,000. until December of 2016. Dunleavy II, Ethan Dunleavy he can push the public contract was reached last Gary Christenson said. A rise to Level 1 means Born in Saugus on Aug. 26, and Connor Dunleavy of Mar- schools up the state’s per- week. Malden High School a salary bonus of $10,000 1926, she was the daughter blehead. She is also survived formance ranking scale. One of the accomplish- and the Malden Public under the terms of his con- of the late Oliver and Florace by her sisters, Beatrice Mills of Oteri signed a three- ments school committee Schools, overall, remain at tract.