Wayland School Committee backs Regis College partnership to ease after-school waitlist

WAYLAND -- June 12, 2024, Wayland eyes Regis College pipeline and outside vendors to clear after-school waitlist. Loker Principal Brian Jones told the School Committee on June 12 that 38 Regis College students responded within 96 hours to work at BASE, the district's after-school program, with 10 more offering to substitute. Jones, who chaired the after-school working group, said the combined Regis partnership and a vendor RFP being developed with Business Administrator Susan Bottan could move 60 to 75 children off the waitlist, and called the staffing shortage a "crisis" that is "our community's responsibility." BASE currently charges $9.75 an hour and may raise tuition for 2025-26. Separately, English Learner Coordinator Christina Rodrigo reported DESE found Wayland out of compliance on five English-learner criteria, two already cleared, with action plans due Aug. 20. The committee unanimously approved the 2025-26 calendar and a teachers-union MOU on religious days and overnight stipends.