Wayland school finance panel restarts elementary building study, sets FY25 calendar

WAYLAND — September 13, 2023 — Wayland school finance panel restarts elementary building study and maps an early FY25 budget. The School Committee Finance Subcommittee on Sept. 13 reviewed a draft calendar built around a town bylaw deadline requiring schools to deliver their budget by Dec. 14, which Superintendent David called "four months earlier than I've ever done it." Business Administrator Susan reported the district has roughly $288,000 in unspent appropriations available to launch a districtwide needs assessment — the prerequisite, she said, before any feasibility study or MSBA review. Susan also disclosed that FY23 special education costs drained the circuit breaker account, with about $1 million spent against a $700,000 projection, plus a $200,000 FY22 prepayment and reallocated teaching-assistant dollars used to cover out-of-district tuition. A new special education reserve fund holds $150,000. The panel approved May 1 minutes 2-0.