Wayland School Committee unanimously approves $400,345 ELA curriculum purchase

WAYLAND — June 24, 2026 — Wayland School Committee approves $400,345 ELA curriculum and warns of FY28 override stakes. The committee voted unanimously Wednesday to purchase the CKLA Caminos third edition K-5 literacy curriculum at a total cost of $400,345.34, funded through a combination of a PRISM grant expiring June 30 and a $350,000 capital appropriation approved at Town Meeting. Director of Finance and Operations Kirsteen Patterson noted that just over $235,000 of the capital funds will be used in year one, with the remainder available for future consumables. The committee also heard a direct warning from Patterson and Superintendent David Fleischman that the district has exhausted cost-reduction options short of an operating override, with Patterson noting the district "almost didn't make payroll" last year. The committee asked staff to model the full-time equivalent staffing reductions a budget without a FY28 override would require. District-wide Director of Health and Wellness Scott Parsegian reported a new unified wellness class, a Project Adventure ropes course under construction for this summer, and a new elective wellness model at the high school, where healthy culinary and nutrition led student preferences with 256 sign-ups.