Wayland schools plan partial spending freeze to close projected budget shortfall

WAYLAND — October 9, 2024 — Wayland schools plan partial freeze on non-personnel spending to close fiscal 2025 shortfall. Interim Superintendent David Fleischman told the School Committee on Oct. 9 that a 32 percent bid increase for special-education transportation — after the vendor first proposed 40 percent — and higher out-of-district tuition costs have pushed the roughly $50 million budget into a projected deficit. Director of Finance and Operations Susan Bottan outlined offsets including about $220,000 in staff-turnover savings, a $150,000 draw from the town's special-education reserve fund, reallocated curriculum charges and federal Special Education 240 grant funds. Fleischman said Wayland expects to qualify for the state's 75 percent emergency tuition reimbursement but warned awards are not confirmed until May. Fiscal 2024 closed with a $7,500.18 balance on a $50,153,195 budget. Member Christina Rodrigo questioned whether the town's Dec. 15 budget-filing bylaw should be pushed later.