Wayland School Committee awards $274,595 master plan contract to HMFH Architects

WAYLAND — September 24, 2025 — Wayland School Committee unanimously awards $274,595 facilities master plan contract to HMFH Architects. The vote, taken Wednesday with members Erin Muller and Betsy Cullen absent, came in under the $288,000 the district had budgeted and followed a procurement process that drew six bids and three finalist interviews. Staff said HMFH was rated "highly advantageous" by all but one evaluator on an eight-member interview team that included committee member Betsy Cullen and parent volunteers Sam Gerges, Sally Dornis and Tim Schmitz. The contract runs through June 30, 2026. Separately, Middle School Principal Debra detailed an Oct. 15 rollout of Yondr phone-locking pouches after 250 device infractions last year, and two residents urged the committee to add Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to the school calendar, with parent Dina Surur saying her children "have to choose every year between fulfilling religious obligations versus academic ones."