Committee votes to drop 10-year bus contract bid

School Committee · Meeting of October 6, 2026

WELLESLEY — The Wellesley School Committee voted 4-0 to drop a push for a 10-year school bus contract after a cheaper five-year deal emerged. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations David Jordan said vendor Hyland offered a five-year contract matching the current deal's fifth-year rate in year one, with a 3 percent annual escalator, calling it "very compelling." The committee separately reviewed MCAS data showing 74 to 84 percent proficiency districtwide, with Vice Chair Costas Panagopoulos saying "we have got to do better than this." High school chronic absenteeism rose, with a roughly six-point gap between female and male students. Members also opted not to add construction funding to their $1.4 million school air conditioning design request, instead planning outreach to a competing citizens' petition before special town meeting.

In the full story:

• Reports and Consent Agenda
• MCAS and Attendance Data Presentation
• Special Town Meeting Warrant Article: Transportation Contracts
• Special Town Meeting Warrant Article: Air Conditioning Project
• FY27 Adjusted Budget
• FY28 Budget Priorities
• District Goals
• Facilities Task Force Membership
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,149 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.