Wayland Schools Chief Issues Elementary School Recommendation

Wayland Public School's Superintendent Paul Stein is recommending the K-5 elementary school grade reconfiguration including a measure to keep enrollment even at the three schools. 

Under the plan introduced in a community wide email from Stein, Claypitt Hill School will have four classrooms for each grade, Happy Hollow school would have three classrooms per grade and the Loker School would have two classrooms per grade.

Stein is also recommending this year's fourth graders remain at their current schools next year as the district transitions to its new plan. 

Also, the plan includes the implementation of "buffer zones," designed to keep enrollment at the three schools even to avoid overcrowding in the buildings, according to the school use report. 

"A buffer zone is usually defined as an area for which individual addresses may be assigned to one of two elementary schools. Parents and guardians of students residing in a buffer zone would request either one of the two designated elementary schools in the zone," the report reads. "The requests would then be granted based on space availability. Students in these zones do not have a designated home school until such time as they are assigned a school," the report reads."

The report estimates the cost of the new configuration would be $594,645.

In the report, Stein cites maintaining a sense of community and improved transportation system for students as just two of the reasons for his recommendation.

Stein plans to present his recommendation at the Dec. 16 Wayland School Committee at 7 p.m in the Wayland Town Building. 

Before any changes can be made, the School Committee must approve the plan and town meeting voters must approve the budget impacts, according to Stein's email.