Wayland School Committee returns $269,371 in unused capital funds to town

WAYLAND -- November 20, 2014, Wayland School Committee closes out $269,371 in completed capital projects and braces for a FY26 budget gap. The 5-0 vote returned unspent balances, most from a long-finished Loker roof replacement, to the town for reinvestment, while new Director of Facilities Michael Vea walked members through a five-year capital plan headlined by a $350,000 emergency generator transfer switch at the middle school, up from a $40,000 placeholder last year. Superintendent David Fleischman said the district will have "a budget gap with a level service budget" for fiscal 2026 and won state Chapter 70 aid figures won't arrive until Jan. 23, prompting the committee to drop four January meetings and target a Feb. 5 budget vote. Business Administrator Susan Bottan reported enrollment of 2,701 students, down 48 year over year, with kindergarten projected to lose 23 students and two to three sections. Director of Student Services Brian reported 77 new students added to the BASE after-school program on Nov. 4.