Santa allowed to keep visiting Saugus schools

SAUGUS, Mass. -- Santa Claus will be allowed to keep visiting Saugus elementary schools every Christmas as he has done the past half-century.

The school committee voted unanimously Thursday to uphold the 50-year-old tradition of allowing firefighters dressed as St. Nick to pass out coloring books and crayons to schoolchildren.

The superintendent just days before Christmas last year announced he was ending the tradition because he said Santa is a religious figure.

He reversed his decision later in the day after an outcry from firefighters and citizens who say Santa is a secular symbol.

The Daily Item reports that Thursday's decision comes with certain guidelines, including giving parents the opportunity to tell the school they do not wish their child to be present when Santa visits. Those children will be given other activities.

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