Wayland finance panel finalizes April 10 school budget hearing plan

WAYLAND — April 5, 2024 — Wayland's School Committee Finance Subcommittee sets the table for an April 10 budget hearing and a long-stalled facilities study. Members confirmed the fiscal 2025 budget is essentially level-service, with full-day kindergarten funded from a non-operating source, and agreed the formal budget booklet can be finalized after the hearing for the May 13 town meeting. Director of Finance and Operations Susan Bottan reported the Select Board voted to transfer $150,000 into the Special Education Reserve Fund, replenishing the account after the district closed a $350,000 transportation shortfall using reserves, circuit-breaker funds and unused WTA lane changes — five approved against more than 20 expected. Bottan said DESE agrees "too many factors out of our control" — including an inflation factor that fell from 4.5 percent to 1.3 percent — keep Wayland on minimum aid. The subcommittee will scope a $288,000 facilities study solo after the town opted to pursue its own buildings assessment.