Wayland School Committee approves $49.4 million FY24 budget in 4-0 vote

WAYLAND — January 25, 2023 — Wayland approves $49.4 million school budget, drops full-day kindergarten from tax-funded plan. The School Committee voted 4-0, with one abstention, to adopt Superintendent Omar Easy's recommended fiscal 2024 budget after he cut $598,000 — including free full-day kindergarten — to align with town finance guidelines. Town Finance Director Brian Keveney told members the unused tax levy will fall below $1 million in fiscal 2024 from $5.9 million in 2019, with special education up $1.7 million, debt service up $1.7 million and the cost-of-living reserve up $1.8 million accounting for "70 percent" of the overall increase. Member Erin Coffin-Sliceberg objected that the district has been level-funded on innovation two years running: "Every dollar we take away from our budget, we're taking away from our kids." Administrators are seeking ARPA money to restore full-day K; an ARPA subcommittee meets ahead of the Select Board's Feb. 6 session.