[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6356525,"mediaKeyId","2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f","parentId",2216396,"title","Wayland plans in-district 18–22 life-skills program and special-education reallocations as circuit-breaker relief looms","audioSeconds",221,"startMs",4910000,"endMs",5131000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f&start=4910&end=5131","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f/thumbnail_4910000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6356525/Massachusetts/Wayland-plans-in-district-1822-life-skills-program-and-special-education-reallocations-as-circuit-breaker-relief-looms","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356525-329633ead53547f9e7a8350019b5f579/orig.mp4?Expires=1776033249&Signature=f~VicMX~-qSPgWfAKQzYuSMlqQVYnzV~ZzNdiMQ1L21INHyACmovPXPvFgo4X6SAsdLllbl-AKDIxGiKx7uXICpUhwwhFpFc95LaVwKx-73hrOTblLX2ZL9Gyioo3Bc~ndbBmYx3YROWI0Plu6USin~aUcVMcLgvr~tjZMWW0UDnIPS~tjWp5kQkKbE8jkKkOW1-hr2ANlwKoGST63dfGVdXsAOOONZpo14HWdLVvYbHeBT046i585Qa~DBxr~jJrHa6Cg7aDkySXmoIQnJqJ0BxQqQzBQDHToHfdkMmN3tYAXndIem26FGLPxTCW2jZhATIjvh~nu0cc7aBKf3bFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Wayland Public Schools, MA","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","District student-services leaders presented a detailed FY26 review to the School Committee on Jan. 30, 2025, covering special-education placements, program alignment K–12, and plans to launch an in-district life-skills program for ages 18–22.

Ronnie Kessler and Susan Botan described a multi-part approach: (1) shift some central-office responsibilities into building-based student-services administrator roles to strengthen local oversight; (2) reallocate existing language-based teachers so the district can expand language-based programming to the high school without adding net new FTEs; and (3) start an in-district 18–22 life-skills/transition program so students can receive transition-to-adult services in Wayland rather than traveling to out-of-district sites.

Administrators said the life-skills program will use existing staff and already-supplied space (kitchen, washer/dryer and an on-site coffee cart used as a vocational teaching tool). They argued an in-district program will lower out-of-district tuition costs, increase alignment with local job sites and travel training, and keep students’ learning tied to their home community.

On funding, administrators walked the committee through the state’s special-education reimbursement system (the so-called “circuit breaker”), noting the FY25 claims and FY26 estimates can materially affect the district’s net special-education costs. They also said the district intends to apply for state extraordinary relief in FY26 for unusually large special-education cost growth and that town finance staff are discussing raising the town’s special-education reserve to $500,000 to buffer pendings and possible out-of-district placements.

Administrators presented an analysis showing elementary special-education IEP numbers are declining in some schools and that this decline, plus two retirements at the elementary level, create the capacity to reallocate one elementary special-education teacher to the high school language-based program. Administrators emphasized that some retirements and reallocations are enrollment-driven and that final staffing will depend on spring course sign-ups and caseload shifts.

Committee members asked for periodic reporting on outcomes and urged continued communication with CPAC (the parent advisory council) and town finance staff. Administrators agreed to provide follow-up Q&A material and to revisit pending out-of-district placements as the school year progresses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wayland School Committee - January 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District student-services leaders presented a detailed FY26 review to the School Committee on Jan. 30, covering special-education placements, program alignment and plans to start a local 18–22 life-skills program.","taxTitle","Wayland Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71630,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356530,"Wayland High School to shrink academic support center staff; district seeks ways to preserve services",858,1466000,2324000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f&start=1466&end=2324","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f/thumbnail_1466000.jpg","/articles/6356530/Massachusetts/Wayland-High-School-to-shrink-academic-support-center-staff-district-seeks-ways-to-preserve-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356530-330e4c1ccbac32de548bc460241904cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776033249&Signature=M0rMS~JhO2xu0v5jcy1YHNZiNm4bxWZvu6Eai0miopAC77CCrRiNYOlQIvyjlEVTCtrbSq-~CwYkQq0StErN84XXYL5ogn2bHk6ZoKNn1vmWwMRB7Ntb2O9STtbhEGwRvt~oHhXlCWdUCfNjoU35Z8Geg-rqq0ntSXSWuZe5qenL7N6NvXiLLNnu5WhlFgJetgbyRvkvBN2yWEFs7sD309sLGTQIhrr5cucGqUVjci~fTKvII~wDZbtQF0jOotRZ2tpz71m9fEJ4VMNTRiS9YcHZPPPS7P5GyJMtMoSvI69Eb4I218i98BqEiS0oNs-M1kkZvHFW9nVPDUwTE8uHFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wayland High School administrators told the School Committee on Jan. 30 that the Academic Support Center—used for targeted academic interventions and peer tutoring—will see a reduction in direct certified-teacher staffing for FY26 because of an upcoming retirement.

Allison, a district staff member who oversees high school programming, summarized the center’s history and current functions: an academic support coordinator and a certified teacher had been providing day-to-day intervention for roughly 100 students scheduled into the center. The coordinator also handles monitoring, case consults and National Honor Society peer-tutor coordination; the teacher provided daily direct intervention and maintained progress tracking.

Administrators explained the retirement will reduce the center’s certified teacher staffing from two adults to one. Allison said the center currently serves about 100 students, mostly 9th and 10th graders, and that the certified teacher “has been instrumental…supporting the students directly, 6 blocks a day.” The committee discussed whether other content-area interventionists (math, English, social studies and science) would absorb parts of the lost support. Administrators said math (.6 FTE split across staff) and a 0.5 English intervention teacher will continue; smaller social-studies and science intervention fractions may be harder to maintain because of reductions in other departments.

Administrators described multiple strategies to preserve services: (1) rely more heavily on classroom teachers and targeted professional development so teachers can deliver interventions in class, (2) maintain peer-tutoring coordinated by the academic support coordinator and (3) prioritize the Academic Support Center for any additional revenue the district might receive in the spring. Committee members pressed administrators to protect the center’s core functions, noting it plays both preventative and remedial roles that can reduce later referrals to special education.

Administrators said they will present updated staffing and sectioning data after course sign-ups later in the spring; they also said they are exploring whether an incremental revenue increase would enable restoring a second certified teacher in the center. No formal staffing changes were approved at the meeting; the committee’s discussion was part of the FY26 budget review.","The academic support center at Wayland High School will lose a full-time teacher due to retirement and not be replaced for FY26, prompting administrators to reassign intervention duties, rely on peer tutoring and consider restoring staffing if extra revenue arrives.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356535,"Wayland elementary budget keeps core supports but trims summer Boost program amid low enrollment",1130,48000,1178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f&start=48&end=1178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f/thumbnail_48000.jpg","/articles/6356535/Massachusetts/Wayland-elementary-budget-keeps-core-supports-but-trims-summer-Boost-program-amid-low-enrollment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356535-c91857adbeb075648b586fb2bf139d8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776033249&Signature=nZDb7ziDp7hRFFWO6URE5xOix-hlThER69yhtH3nfnD51FYl9Wc0uDy7NaAZXVDYnGUdayTGGWe-A9I-U9CaYDDzmOtm-K-zAnxym~ev8Txkwb3wRCpwBAQ41r0M1f~CdKQZKlh5262oa35svAmPIR5RoCAeT~w~VqzCz9Sm07R4DsJDAOxeJLMx5YP7l-zIK1QWGjGG2yAMW9a4yGWH2z3BefbPICMIWYb5nRClyDjdQJz4qteUMzv7eXt-9ZuopotaPMki7OsfsrMXY~iESMMeh2ssz0E0G4pmbL-QpAIDU~cJyx-MUnfRLfUigYbwRlFpTVDV7P~Ymn6aQRg-vQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wayland School Committee members and district administrators reviewed proposed changes to the fiscal year 2026 elementary budget on Jan. 30, 2025, saying the plan is driven by enrollment declines and aims to preserve core services.

Administrators told the committee the elementary budget reduces or reallocates some positions because overall kindergarten and early-grade enrollment is lower than in recent years. “Any changes that happen was based on enrollment,” said Susan Botan, a member of the district administrative team, noting kindergarten numbers are at levels she described as unusually low. The committee heard the district intends to protect reading specialists and maintain teaching-assistant support.

Committee members pressed for clarity on specific program lines. Brian, who presented on Wayland School Community Programs (WSCP), said the district is examining whether to propose a WSCP summer-rate increase; if adopted, he said it would affect the revenue side of the WSCP budget but not elementary spending. Administrators confirmed an ongoing review of summer rates but said any revenue changes would not alter line-item spending in the FY26 elementary budget.

The district will reduce the summer “Boost” program next year after staff and committee members reported sporadic attendance limited the program’s effectiveness. Administrators said about 100 Boost slots were available this summer but that attendance was inconsistent, reducing expected academic benefits. To address potential summer learning loss for students who would have attended Boost, administrators said they plan to strengthen Tier 2 instruction in regular classrooms, use a Title I grant at Cleveland Hill for targeted supports and rely on a reconfigured math coaching role that will include substantial intervention time.

Administrators stressed that reductions are not eliminations of support: teaching-assistant staffing levels will be maintained across elementary schools, they said, and some staff lines have been moved between district and school accounts to better reflect where staff work. Principals attending to answer committee questions described the budget as “enrollment-driven” and expressed confidence that the plan preserves essential services while acknowledging aspirations—for example, a full-time math interventionist at every school—are not currently affordable.

The committee also heard positive feedback about the first year of full-day kindergarten. Administrators said full-day kindergarten is improving instructional pacing, supporting social-emotional learning, simplifying scheduling and removing the tuition barrier that previously limited access for some families.

Committee members asked administrators to return with further enrollment and staffing detail where positions are shifted between district- and school-level budgets. Several members also suggested the district monitor the impact of the Boost reduction on student outcomes, and to report back in the fall about intervention results and student progress.

The district did not adopt new elementary staffing lines at the meeting; the discussion was part of FY26 budget review and did not itself change the budget.","Committee members and administrators said FY26 elementary spending is enrollment-driven. Staffing shifts and program reallocation aim to preserve reading specialists and TA levels while reducing a summer \"Boost\" offering with sporadic attendance.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356515,"School committee approves overnight DECA trip for qualifying students",229,3332000,3561000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f&start=3332&end=3561","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f/thumbnail_3332000.jpg","/articles/6356515/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-overnight-DECA-trip-for-qualifying-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356515-59e89f97ab71e910a390c92e8c42753d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776033249&Signature=ZN-a6QyxV7FP4vlaFa1L9nLAeUM7FUNMQb8OqylqR~2OT0lz--ObqXKbz~k727is9pMYN8HNbHduuMNnuC53sex5VVVJVenDrlKPl3LuSdPXRQbd39OHxZ9qZJqdNR4B~VLumP4zCE94GX7ELsCEfKFk9ARi4itz9T29ZoVL3N6ZEuEibUg~br9Q4S95GxyBEHvlC42W3rktZaOvh6AgeEGyWKpkrku8qQXCucgk9PsUWek3ega7MD9DAuLzXTL0qVH34B~UWCTv9eNYe4HTJE~T41NcPx1HREfF42v6KP9BNx6k6bHWBe37qeKa86zMf~~oV9zfxBtw84oZGAgK2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wayland School Committee approved an overnight DECA trip for four students who qualified for a regional competition round in Boston.

Fred Lehman, the high school business teacher who launched the new DECA chapter, told the committee the chapter—about 20–24 students in its first year—had four students advance to the next competition. He said student-activities funds and parents will cover transportation and costs; the trip includes evening networking events integral to the competition experience.

A committee member moved to approve the overnight-trip request; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor. Committee members asked administrators to invite students and the advisor to report back on the competition after the trip.

The approval covers transportation and a one- to two-night stay in Boston; the committee recorded no votes in opposition.","The committee unanimously approved an overnight trip for four DECA students advancing to the next round of competition in Boston; teacher Fred Lehman will chaperone and student-activity funds plus transportation will cover costs.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6356519,"School committee approves modest tuition increase for Children’s Way preschool to sustain program",1765,5773000,7538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f&start=5773&end=7538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216396-192f2f41d2ccb01b130c909b7d5e415f/thumbnail_5773000.jpg","/articles/6356519/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-modest-tuition-increase-for-Childrens-Way-preschool-to-sustain-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6356519-e3ddf57251857a732eea926c459aaaeb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776033249&Signature=Yo31Xa~prUZsQpFSWXoLqLSv88hQpwcAKQvr7iwsNEiley8ehYNSD-fBhzkeZCV5AmnPXnKIT1SPu7T0nZ4G3B093cOt4QfpTP9Q4DBOsoUw8eWvvTu2DvQUNkKqHWGzll~9tbmcdDOGnKaEP2QYBPhgutXZSthuT~WD~ySMJERaKnNvWORbuyAZ0ZGBTPdubDlXjw-nqEXyyhTVQ-OFedtzRrz9BOd8lgb2gm64wNYaetn-RJyVWvuESw5eVFUfGAnoweUyLqMK4TgI6FaiYK66J3IfsBb4gtn~9PT8lJ2DbeNFeLNuGpHOqPJEJ9eoSk-4zpq-yTLaZt006VKkdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wayland School Committee voted on Jan. 30, 2025, to approve a 2.75% tuition increase for Children’s Way (TCW) preschool for fiscal year 2026.

Susan Botan, who presented the TCW proposal, told the committee that the program has not raised rates in several years and that the recommended 2.75% increase is intended to cover operating costs while keeping the program accessible. She said TCW is at capacity (75 children), is staffed by dually certified teachers and reserves half of classroom slots for students with special-education needs. Administrator presentations also noted that students in TCW with an IEP do not pay tuition for their special-education services.

Committee members asked whether higher fees would expand full-day slots; administrators said TCW is at capacity and state licensing and room sizes (15 students per classroom) limit expansion. Administrators confirmed that TCW program quality differs from some private preschools because staff are licensed under K–12 education standards and TCW offers related services (speech, OT, etc.) on site for students with IEPs.

A committee member moved to approve the TCW rate increase; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor (recorded as unanimous with one member absent). The committee instructed administrators to publish the revised rates following the vote and to provide follow-up materials requested by committee members.","The committee voted to raise Children’s Way (TCW) tuition by 2.75% for FY26. Administrators said the fee change is modest, preserves program quality and does not expand TCW capacity, which remains capped at 75 children.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Wayland plans in-district 18–22 life-skills program and special-education reallocations as circuit-breaker relief looms

Wayland High School to shrink academic support center staff; district seeks ways to preserve services

Wayland elementary budget keeps core supports but trims summer Boost program amid low enrollment

School committee approves overnight DECA trip for qualifying students

School committee approves modest tuition increase for Children’s Way preschool to sustain program