Town Meeting takes up Wellesley school budget amid enrollment slide

WELLESLEY — March 31, 2026 — Wellesley Town Meeting opens fiscal 2027 school budget debate as enrollment drops. Moderator Mark Kaplan reminded members that under Chapter 71, Section 34 they can only move the bottom line up or down, and that spending recommendations are "non-binding upon the school committee." Superintendent David Lussier said elementary class sizes run 18 to 22 in K–2 and 22 to 24 in grades three to five, and that "we really don't see a pathway" to consolidate from six elementary schools to five. Member Ms. Quigley noted seven recent developments totaling 471 units yielded just 57 students against a projection of 134 — 43 percent of forecast. Total transportation spending topped $3 million in FY25, with one year left on the Eastern Bus contract. Members earlier passed Motion 2 under Article 8 by 9-2-0, contingent on later passage of Motion 4.