Wayland school officials detail $48.8 million budget after $1.2 million in cuts

WAYLAND -- March 13, 2023, Wayland walks residents through a $48.8 million school budget after $1.2 million in cuts. Superintendent Omar Easy and Finance Director Tom LaPlora told a community forum the fiscal 2024 plan represents a $1.6 million, or 3.5 percent, increase over the prior year, with about $1.07 million in utilities shifted to the town. Special education jumps from $3.6 million to $5.3 million, driven by a state-approved 14 percent tuition hike. To meet a $600,000 Finance Committee cut, the School Committee dropped a proposed EL teacher, a Loker special education teacher and $450,000 from sped transportation; $150,000 hinges on a new reserve fund at Town Meeting. Full-day kindergarten remains a $2,700 family fee. Director of Student Services BJ Cataldo said nine unilateral placement letters in her first week were "extraordinary."