Wayland schools end fiscal 2025 in the black by $4,800 after spending freeze

WAYLAND -- October 22, 2025, Wayland Public Schools closed fiscal 2025 with a $4,800 surplus after a year of partial spending freezes. Director of Finance and Operations Kirsteen Pedersen, in her debut quarterly report, said the district spent $52,625,896 last year and warned that leaning on revolving balances "is not a sustainable practice." Fiscal 2026 opens with a 4.8 percent increase to $54,987,318, but McKinney-Vento homeless transportation is already $35,000 over budget. Known special education out-of-district costs of $5,949,523 are projected to be covered by operating funds and $2,293,705 in circuit breaker reimbursement, leaving the $500,000 stabilization reserve intact for now. The committee unanimously approved Superintendent David Fleischman's 2025-26 goals as revised, and HMFH Architects will run facilities visioning sessions Nov. 3 and Nov. 17.