Wayland School Committee approves five-year capital plan, launches cell phone working group

WAYLAND -- December 2, 2024, Wayland School Committee briefed on Chapter 70 as foundation budget reaches $33.9 million. MASC field director Tracy Novick told members Monday that Wayland's FY25 required local contribution is $27.9 million, the maximum 82.5 percent of foundation, with the state filling the rest plus $1.3 million in hold-harmless aid, putting net school spending at roughly 104 percent of foundation. Novick noted the foundation inflation factor was just 1.35 percent last year and is tracking near 2 percent for FY26, well below actual cost growth: "You probably didn't have any section of your budget that only went up by 1.35 percent." Wayland is a Group 2 district at 6 to 11.99 percent low-income. The committee also launched a cell phone working group, naming members Kate Sambuco and Christina Rodrigo, with a first meeting Jan. 6 and recommendations due by April vacation, and unanimously approved a five-year capital plan presented by Director of Finance Susan Bottan and Michael Faiia.