Wayland School Committee restores high school position in revised $55M budget

WAYLAND — February 13, 2025 — Wayland School Committee adds $85,000 high school teacher to FY26 budget after revenue surprises. Members voted unanimously Feb. 13 to lift the district's recommended fiscal 2026 budget to $54,987,318, restoring a 1.0 FTE position primarily for the Wayland High School Academic Support Center. Superintendent David Fleishman said the town received more than $200,000 above the budgeted Chapter 70 state aid figure and that West Suburban Health Group insurance costs are now projected below the 10 percent inflation built into the town budget — each percentage point worth about $100,000. The center serves 105 students an average of 4.7 blocks per eight-day cycle, and a second teacher hired last year is retiring. Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Susan Bottan said the new hire is budgeted at Master's-Step 8. The increase moves the school budget from 4.32 percent to 4.48 percent year over year, which Fleishman called "responsible" as "the next couple of years are really going to be tough."