Wayland School Committee closes FY25 balanced, approves 2026-27 calendar

WAYLAND — June 25, 2025 — Wayland schools will close FY25 balanced after a partial spending freeze and one-time offsets. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Susan Bouchon told the School Committee on June 25 that the district had "weathered a notably difficult financial year," projecting a roughly $4,000 surplus on a budget over $50 million after substitute costs ran $50,000 above last year. Offsets included a state extraordinary relief award, a $114,000 E-rate reimbursement directed to technology, grant and revolving fund draws, and paused curriculum purchases — sources Bouchon warned were not recurring. Superintendent David Fleischman, now permanent after serving as interim, said the district has exhausted internal efficiencies: "I think we're done. We're not going to be able to reduce anymore without impacting services." The state Special Education Reserve Fund is rising to $500,000 from $150,000. The committee also unanimously adopted the 2026-27 calendar and entered executive session on an open meeting law complaint filed by resident George Harris.