Weston School Committee creates School Building Committee, orders budget alternatives

WESTON — February 3, 2026 — Weston School Committee votes to create a School Building Committee and directs Superintendent Karen Zaleski to return with alternative FY27 budget scenarios. The committee voted 5-0 Tuesday to form the seven-member panel as part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority process, with the School Committee appointing its own chair from among its serving members. The budget discussion dominated the evening after five speakers from three unions — WAPA, the Weston Educational Administrative Assistants Association, and the Weston Education Association — testified against the proposed elimination of seven support-staff positions under a 3.99 percent spending increase. WAPA president Hyein Tarvainen warned that cutting the roles "does not make the work disappear," and administrative assistant Katie Skelley argued that eliminating the $42,200 nursing department aide would shift state health-mandate compliance onto school nurses. Member Kenneth Newberg suggested redirecting a $250,000 contingency line to preserve security-critical posts; member Jane Li questioned whether the 3.99 percent threshold adequately funds the new high school schedule the committee itself approved. The committee also learned that Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Kimo Carter has been selected as the next superintendent of Holliston Public Schools.