School committee approves one-year Extended Day fee increase to support wages and reduce wait list

WALPOLE, Mass. — The Walpole School Committee voted unanimously Monday to approve a one-year increase in Extended Day fees intended to bring the program closer to comparable towns’ rates, support competitive staff wages and reduce the program wait list.

During the presentation, the Extended Day presenter — who worked with the program’s director, Dan Santangelo (named in the packet as the Extended Day director) — described a proposed 6 percent increase for the 2025–26 year (characterized in the presentation as roughly 3 percent over two years when combined with last year’s reset). The presenter said the change includes an "equity adjustment" that would raise a five-day rate cited in the packet from $4.75 to $5.25 as an example of moving toward the middle of comparable towns.

Committee members probed affordability and the math behind the proposed rates. One member observed that the packet’s column labeled a “monthly rate increase” reads as a weekly figure for families; the presenter acknowledged a prior mathematical error in a daily-rate calculation and said revised numbers were available. The presenter also said morning fees would remain unchanged and emphasized the district’s intent to provide scholarships for families with extenuating circumstances.

Supporters said the incremental increase is necessary to sustain staffing and quality. "We would like to support competitive wages and reduce our wait list," the presenter said, noting the wait list had fallen from about 60 to 29 after earlier changes. Committee member Nancy moved the motion "to increase the extended day charges as listed in our packet," and Bill seconded. The committee recorded a unanimous vote in favor (7–0–0).

What it means: The change was approved as a one-year measure, with the presenter recommending a routine, predictable annual increase (for example, 1–3 percent per year) once the district reaches an acceptable comparative position. The committee asked for a deeper review of operating-budget offsets and scholarship capacity in follow-up conversations.

Other business: The committee also approved warrants and payroll warrants listed in the packet, accepted donations totaling $1,504.80 from the Junior Women's Club of Walpole and Bay State Textiles to multiple schools, and approved meeting minutes from 10/23/2025 and 10/30/2025; all routine motions passed unanimously (7–0–0). The meeting adjourned upon a final unanimous vote.

The Extended Day rate increase is effective for the coming school-year billing cycle; administrators said they will return with revised rate math and further budget-offset details.