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2008-12-12: Budget process, the High School project, technology, and more As the calendar year comes to a close, the Wayland School Committee has a number of items on which to report. The FY10 budget process The Superintendent is currently receiving building-level budgets from the principals and other key administrators. He will review those budgets, make changes, and present his aggregate budget to the Committee at the 12/18 meeting (details below). At the 12/18 meeting plus tentatively scheduled meetings on 1/5, 1/8, 1/12, and 1/15, the Committee will review the Superintendent's budget, ask questions, debate priorities, and potentially make changes for submission of an operating and a capital budget to the Finance Committee at a meeting on 1/20. The School Committee will hold a budget hearing later in the spring. Voters will then weigh in on both budgets in April. The High School project December is turning out to be a month of significant movement regarding the Wayland High School facility. The High School Building Committee (HSBC) met with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to determine an enrollment target, which will drive the space allowance and budget eligible for what is projected to be 40% reimbursement (click here to see the School Committee approved enrollment presentation). Next week, the HSBC is expected to meet with the MSBA to request approval of the required Owner's Project Manager (OPM). Technology update Over the last decade, the School Committee has knowingly but begrudgingly under-funded network, software, and hardware technology throughout the district while focusing on other critical needs. This under-funding, the completion of a technology audit, the work of the Superintendent's Technology Task Force (TTF), the hiring of a new Director of Technology, and demands from the community compel the Committee to put in place and request funding for a new and more aggressive technology plan. Working with the TTF, the Director of Technology has developed a three-phase plan for the evolution of Wayland's educational technology.
At its 11/18 fall forum, the Committee gave a presentation and heard from the community on a wide range of topics. District report card At the forum, the Committee reported on the initial version of its district report card, which is available here. Survey: Wayland community input on educational priorities Also at the forum, the Committee gave an initial look at responses to its survey of educational priorities (see slide 25 of the presentation referenced above). Over the next month or so, the Committee intends to issue a more detailed set of results. Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 18th (note non-standard day), at 7:00pm 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 and attendance at public meetings and forums (schedule). This newsletter is archived online at www.waylandschoolcommittee.org/newsletter.htm |