Wayland School Committee closes $269,371 in capital projects, compresses budget calendar

WAYLAND -- November 20, 2024, Wayland School Committee compresses FY26 budget calendar and eyes ARPA-funded cellphone pouches. Superintendent David Fleischman told members the district will face a gap even at level service, citing special education tuition inflation and the final year of union contracts, and pushed the budget vote to Feb. 5. The committee unanimously voted to close completed capital projects and return $269,371 to the town, most of it left over from the Loker roof replacement. New Facilities Director Michael Fahey flagged a $350,000 middle school transfer switch as urgent, saying the current manual switchover is "dangerous." Director of Student Services Ronnie Kessler reported Oct. 1 enrollment of 2,701, with next year's kindergarten projected at 139 against a graduating class of 195, likely cutting two to three sections. Chair Erin Gibbons pressed to capture ARPA money before a December deadline to fund phone pouches districtwide.