Wayland school finance panel forwards building-use, transportation changes to full committee

WAYLAND — February 27, 2024 — Wayland school finance panel advances building-use changes and reviews $1.4 million bus contract. School Business Administrator Susan Bottan told the School Committee's Finance Subcommittee on Tuesday that the district will eliminate discounted long-term rental rates for the middle and high school auditoriums, add a $45-per-hour technical-director charge, and reduce listed middle school auditorium seating from 550 to 320 seats after part of the back was converted to an open classroom. The auditoriums need roughly $150,000 in sound, lighting and projection upgrades that have fallen off the five-year capital plan. Bottan said the FY25 transportation contract costs $1.4 million against $1.26 million in operating funds and $260,000 in projected family fees, leaving about $22,000 after fuel, maintenance and athletics escalators, and $12,200 after a TransFinder software upgrade. Food-service director Cheryl Judd will reimburse the town $60,700 in unpaid FY22 benefits and OPEB costs. The $400 student bus fee is unchanged; registration opens March 4.