Wayland School Committee folds full-day kindergarten into FY25 budget, ending tuition

WAYLAND — January 3, 2024 — Wayland eliminates kindergarten tuition by folding $535,769 into the FY25 school budget. The School Committee voted unanimously Jan. 3 to build full-day kindergarten into a budget that now runs about 6.1 percent over current spending, on top of a 4.94 percent level-service increase to $52.63 million. Business Administrator Susan Bottan told the committee that Chapter 70 aid would have been roughly $893,000 higher this year had Wayland reported full-day K enrollment, meaning the district expects to fully repay the town in fiscal 2026. Superintendent David Fleischman quoted Finance Director Brian Keveney calling it a "wise investment," and member Jeannie Downs warned, "If they don't put this budget forward, we will go to town meeting." In a separate 4-1 vote — Christina Rodrigo opposed — the committee contributed $15,000 toward WayCAM's $48,000 streaming bill, matching the Select Board.