FY'26 Budget Document (December 10, 2024)

Wellesley Public Schools: Fiscal Year 2026 Budget

Wellesley Parent Teacher Student Organizations (PTO/PTSO) Each school has a Parent Teacher Student Organization who supports and enhances the educational experiences of students by providing an organization through which the PTO/PTSO can work cooperatively and provide financial support for educational programs outside the school’s annual budget. Wellesley Public Media Wellesley Public Media is the local access cable station. An independently operated non-profit, Wellesley Public Media is committed to providing programming that serves the interests and needs of Wellesley. Airing on Comcast channel 9 and on Verizon channel 39. Wellesley Scholarship Foundation (WSF) The Wellesley Scholarship Foundation’s (WSF's) goal is to ensure that every Wellesley youth can pursue their dream of a college education. The Foundation’s primary focus is upon need-based scholarships. WSF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization World of Wellesley (WOW) The World of Wellesley is dedicated to making Wellesley a welcoming community where diversity is celebrated. In partnership with local institutions and organizations, WOW organizes events, projects, and programs that emphasize the value in exploring the many cultures, religions, and ways of life. WOW is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Guidelines The following general guidance is meant to assist the Wellesley Public Schools administration in preparing the budget for Fiscal Year 2026. The School Committee has directed the administration to prepare three separate operating budgets: the first should represent a 3.25 percent increase over the FY’2025 budget to reflect guidelines voted by the Select Board. The second should represent a “level service” budget. The Committee would also like to see a budget that reflects the third year of the strategic priorities and other critical needs.

On October 29, 2024, the School Committee voted for the Operating Budget Guidance for FY’26:

The Committee will strive to develop a budget at guideline while balancing the expectations of the community to provide an educational system that meets our core values of Academic Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, Commitment to Community, Value & Respect for Human Differences, and Caring and Cooperative Relationships. In the creation of the FY’26 budget, the Committee places priority on the following objectives: • Supporting the achievement of our system goals, including the WPS Strategic Plan with a focus on year 3. • Meeting legal mandates. • Offering appropriate general and special education programs and services and structuring the budget to insulate general education programs from the potential variability in special education expenses and revenue. • Supporting enrollment increases and/or decreases by maintaining class size guidelines and student options accordingly. • Providing competitive compensation and programming to support the recruitment, hiring, retention and

development of quality professional and other instructional and administrative staff. • Providing adequate supplies and equipment to support the educational program.

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