Wayland School Committee approves preschool move to Happy Hollow for 2026-27

WAYLAND — April 8, 2026 — Wayland preschool moves to Happy Hollow next year as committee tightens FY27 budget. The School Committee learned Tuesday that The Children's Way will relocate into Happy Hollow Elementary for 2026-27, an accelerated step driven by declining elementary enrollment, with Director of Student Services Ronnie Kessler saying staff have "thought of everything" from a fenced preschool playground to a live drop-off. Superintendent David Fleischman said the recommended FY27 increase has been reduced from 4.98 percent to 4.48 percent, with roughly $145,000 trimmed from personnel after a kindergarten position was cut on enrollment projections, and warned that "next year we will need additional revenue" because the town is "so close to the tax levy." Members also voted unanimously to create a new Tuitions-In revolving fund letting out-of-district students fill open seats in Wayland's specialized programs, and approved Super Wednesday professional development days on Oct. 7 and Dec. 9, 2026, and Feb. 10 and March 10, 2027. Technology Director Jen reported a 9.8 percent staff click rate on the district's first simulated phishing campaign, about half the K-12 baseline.