Credit: Marissa Mendoza

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the first Wayland School Committee meeting of the year took place from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m..

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the first Wayland School Committee meeting of the year took place. Superintendent David Fleishman, Assistant Superintendent Betsy Gavron, Wayland School Community Programs (WSCP) Director Nayagara Viera and all five members of the school committee attended.

The topics of discussion included an overview of the Wayland summer programs, reducing chronic absenteeism in schools and a preview into the topics that will be discussed in the next meeting.

Quick Hit One: Wayland summer programs

The meeting started with an overview of what happened over the summer, focusing on services for students. This included discussions on Extended School Year Services (ESY), Pegasus and STEAM Explorers (PSE) and the new Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) Transition Program. This summer was the first time the PSE summer program was available for middle schoolers to join. According to School Committee Chair Erin Gibbons, PSE continued its emphasis on social emotional learning and the idea that “all children thrive when given the right support,” and it is now an option for all grades, K-12. In addition, kids aged 14 or older are able to earn community service hours in PSE’s CIT program.

This summer also saw the start of the new METCO Transition Program, which offered METCO students entering sixth grade to begin adjusting to middle school before the year started. Additionally, a K-5 METCO Summer Enrichment Program in Boston gave parents an affordable childcare option, helping students with anxiety, academics and increasing kids’ confidence.

Quick Hit Two: Chronic absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism is when students miss 10% or more of the school year. This has been a concern of the School Committee due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as rising anxiety and struggles with mental health among students. Concerns of the impact of family travel plans on students’ attendance records were also expressed

Due to some students’ consistent absences, the School Committee acknowledged a need for consistent and proactive strategies that confront chronic absenteeism, especially for those missing school because of mental health.

Strategies to reduce absences were piloted last year. These strategies include more direct and consistent communication with students’ families and the students themselves who miss school, such as interviews to determine what struggles may be causing chronic absenteeism and sending congratulatory emails for corrected behavior.

Using these strategies, chronic absenteeism in the 2024-25 school year decreased by 7.7%, going from 17.9% in the 2023-24 school year to 10.2%.

Quick Hit Three: A look into topics for their next meeting

The committee briefly discussed what they will talk about during their next meeting on Sept. 24. These topics include a master facility plan update, the implementation of Yondr bags and Fleishman’s goals for the upcoming year.

Additionally, METCO plans to have a student panel speak with the School Committee in a meeting on Nov. 1 in Boston.