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2007-02-02: 2007-2008 budget nearing final form, within Finance Committee guideline This newsletter contains information on: 1. 2007-2008 budget presented to Finance Committee 2. Elementary school configuration to remain unchanged for the near term and attendance at public meetings and forums (schedule). 1. 2007-2008 budget presented to Finance Committee At our meeting on Monday, January 22nd, we presented our recommended 2007-2008 budget to the Finance Committee. That budget meets the Finance Committee's level-funded guideline, which provides for a stable staff count and allows for utility cost increases. Overall, the School Committee is planning on a net reduction of one position: elementary sections will drop from 62 to 60 due to a dip in enrollment, and the third elementary reading teacher that has been a topic of discussion for several years will be added. 2. Elementary school configuration to remain unchanged for the near term The School Committee discussed the conditions under which the elementary schools might be reconfigured to yield a cost savings. Several options were considered, including going from 3 schools to 2 1/2 schools (with one of the elementary schools housing Kindergarten only) and going from 3 schools to 2 schools. The 2 1/2 school model saves a relatively modest amount of money, yet requires complete redistricting as the 2 full schools would be altered to K-2 and 3-5. The 2 school model offers potentially larger savings, but requires an enrollment drop from the current level of approximately 1,200 elementary schools to a sustainable 1,050 students or fewer. (It is important to note that the development--or lack thereof--of the Town Center project, for instance, will have "sustainable" enrollment implications.) The Committee decided not to implement either model for the 2007-2008 school year, but both models will be revisited on an annual basis. The committee also discussed redistricting to reduce the planned 60 elementary sections by another 1 or 2. Involuntary redistricting will not be pursued for the 2007-2008 school year, but the committee has asked the administration to explore voluntary redistricting on the part of a few families to understand whether a few sections might be consolidated. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 5h at 7:30pm in the School Committee meeting room on the second floor of the Town Building (full meeting schedule). Thank you for your attention, Wayland School Committee www.waylandschoolcommittee.org This newsletter is archived online at www.waylandschoolcommittee.org/newsletter.htm |