Weston School Committee Approves FY24 Budget Amid Teacher Union No-Confidence Vote

WESTON — March 13, 2023 — Weston School Committee unanimously approves FY24 budget as teachers union declares no confidence. The board voted 4-0 Monday to recommend a 2.49 percent budget increase — roughly $25 million — for funding at the May 8 Weston Town Meeting, even as WEA president Ed read a union statement saying more than 90 percent of educators had signed a no-confidence vote, calling the committee's salary offer of 5.75 percent over three years "less than inflation for this year alone." Superintendent Dr. Mitch Connolly, departing at year's end, objected on the record to a 17 percent, $24,000 reduction in the Director of Equity and Professional Development salary. The committee also authorized community member Charlie Hippwood to raise an estimated $500,000 in private funds for lights at Field One, with roughly $150,000 already informally pledged, and voted unanimously to direct its interim superintendent screening committee to prioritize candidates who could potentially remain as the permanent hire — with finalist names due at the March 27 meeting and a final decision expected April 10.