Wellesley Morning Brief, Oct. 31: School Committee OKs $96.9M FY27 budget

From Wellesley News

• Housing Authority faces maintenance staffing crunch The Wellesley Housing Authority worked through its revised 2026 budget and two service contracts even as deputy director James Sullivan disclosed a deepening maintenance staffing shortage, with the agency now short two of four maintenance workers and nine units reported vacant.Wellesley News
• Planning Board delays five house reviews, hears housing pitch Wellesley's Planning Board continued five large house review applications to Nov. 2 over unresolved drainage, lighting and tree-removal questions, while developer Jumbo Capital pitched a senior living facility at 888 Worcester Street timed to the spring 2027 town meeting.Wellesley News
• School committee reviews FY27 budget, district goals Wellesley's School Committee took up its FY27 adjusted budget and a batch of grant acceptances after officials revealed a staffing-data mismatch between two internal systems that is adding several special education positions, including a behavioral technician and teaching assistants.Wellesley News
• School Committee adopts report, eyes new schedule Wellesley's School Committee took up a streamlined annual town report and new facilities task force appointments as High School Principal Jamie Chisholm cautioned the district remains far from a new class schedule needed to meet added state graduation requirements.Wellesley News
• Select Board weighs faster school AC funding bid Wellesley's Select Board weighed a $170,000 free-cash request to speed up design of air conditioning at Bates and Fisk elementary schools, as a Schofield parent described students "sprawled on tile floors, sweaty and red-faced" during hot weather.Wellesley News
• Early in-person voting ends Oct. 30 Oct. 30 was the last day for Wellesley residents to vote early in person for the 2026 State Election, with Town Hall open until 8 p.m. the evening before for evening voters.Wellesley News

Happening Sat, Oct 31

• 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.: Chabad holds Shabbat service and kiddush lunch Wellesley Weston Chabad holds Shabbat Service and a Kiddush Lunch Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.Wellesley Weston Chabad
• 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Halloween Stroll brings trick-or-treating to Clock Tower Park The Wellesley Recreation Department and Wellesley Hills merchants host the annual Halloween Stroll Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clock Tower Park, with trick-or-treating stops for children ages 0-8. Wellesley Patch also previewed the event.Town of Wellesley
• 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Library's Big Blue Blocks returns for weekend play Wellesley Free Library invites children to build with Big Blue Blocks in the Children's Room Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.Wellesley Free Library
• Hills Church pumpkin patch fundraiser wraps up Saturday Wellesley Hills Congregational Church's annual Pumpkin Patch fundraiser for its Youth Service Trip and the Wellesley Food Pantry runs through Saturday at 207 Washington Street.Town of Wellesley
• Babson hosts Halloween Sing Along on campus Babson College holds a Halloween Sing Along event on its Wellesley campus Saturday, Oct. 31.Babson College

Yesterday in Wellesley (Fri, Oct 30)

• Wellesley College swimming opens season with win Wellesley College opened its swimming and diving season with a 212-80 win over Wheaton College Friday night at Chandler Pool.Wellesley College Athletics
• Babson volleyball sweeps Endicott in three sets No. 23 Babson College women's volleyball swept visiting Endicott College 25-9, 25-16, 25-17 Friday night at Staake Gymnasium, led by senior Hailey Fouche's 12 kills.Babson College Athletics
• Babson women's swimming wins seven events at WPI Babson College women's swimming and diving won seven events in a five-team meet at WPI's pool Friday night, with five different swimmers taking individual victories.Babson College Athletics
• Babson men's swimming wins two of three at WPI Babson College men's swimming and diving defeated two of three opponents Friday night at WPI's quad meet, led by first-year Thomas Iglar's event win.Babson College Athletics
• Wellesley football beats Brookline 26-7 Wellesley High School football defeated Brookline 26-7 Friday, according to Wellesley Sports Blitz's Raider Recap.Wellesley Sports Blitz

Coming up

• Sun, Nov 1, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Library's Big Blue Blocks continues Sunday Wellesley Free Library again invites children to build with Big Blue Blocks Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Children's Room.Wellesley Free Library
• Sun, Nov 1, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Library's Fiber Craft Club meets for younger kids Wellesley Free Library's Fiber Craft Club for grades K through 3 meets Sunday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Wakelin Room, with a new technique each month.Wellesley Free Library
• Sun, Nov 1, 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.: Library's Fiber Craft Club meets for older kids Wellesley Free Library's Fiber Craft Club for grades 4 through 8 meets Sunday from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in the Wakelin Room.Wellesley Free Library
• Sun, Nov 1, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.: Chabad Hebrew School meets Sunday Wellesley Weston Chabad's Hebrew School meets Sunday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.Wellesley Weston Chabad
• Sun, Nov 1, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.: Chabad JLI course explores relationship skills Wellesley Weston Chabad offers a JLI course on nurturing relationships Sunday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., exploring Jewish texts on empathy and conflict repair.Wellesley Weston Chabad
• Mon, Nov 2, 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.: Library brings Crafternoon to Barton Center Nov. 2 Wellesley Free Library's WFL On The Go brings a craft activity to the Barton Road Housing Complex community room Monday, Nov. 2, from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.Wellesley Free Library
• Tue, Nov 3, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.: Chabad's Rosh Chodesh Society meets Nov. 3 Wellesley Weston Chabad's Rosh Chodesh Society hosts its Next Genesis program Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.Wellesley Weston Chabad
• Wed, Nov 4, 6:30 p.m.: Advisory Committee meets Nov. 4 at Town Hall Wellesley's Advisory Committee meets Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at Town Hall.Town of Wellesley
• Wed, Nov 4: High school, middle school release early Nov. 4 Wellesley High School and Wellesley Middle School dismiss early Wednesday, Nov. 4.Wellesley Public Schools
• Thu, Nov 5: Elementary schools release early for conferences Nov. 5 Wellesley's PreK-5 schools dismiss early Thursday, Nov. 5, for parent-teacher conferences.Wellesley Public Schools
• Thu, Nov 5, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.: Library hosts Arnold Lecture with Tuch, Lehr Wellesley Free Library hosts its Arnold Lecture featuring David Tuch in conversation with Dick Lehr Thursday, Nov. 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Wakelin Room.Wellesley Free Library
• Fri, Nov 6, 8:00 a.m.: Climate Action Committee meets Nov. 6 Wellesley's Climate Action Committee holds a hybrid meeting Friday, Nov. 6, at 8 a.m. in the Juliani Room at Town Hall.Town of Wellesley
• Fri, Nov 6, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.: Sustainability summit convenes at Babson's Olin Hall The Greater Needham-Wellesley Sustainability Summit runs Friday, Nov. 6, from noon to 5 p.m. at Olin Hall on the Babson College campus.Town of Wellesley
• Fri, Nov 6: Clothing drive for Cradles to Crayons ends Nov. 6 Wellesley's clothing drive with Cradles to Crayons continues at the purple donation bin in Town Hall's west lobby through Nov. 6, accepting new or gently used clothing of all sizes.Town of Wellesley
• Sun, Nov 8: Diwali observed Nov. 8 Wellesley Public Schools' calendar notes Diwali falls on Sunday, Nov. 8.Wellesley Public Schools
• Mon, Nov 9: Wellesley Athletics hosts Seattle Storm coach Nov. 9 Wellesley College Athletics hosts a conversation with Seattle Storm head coach Sonia Raman, a former Wellesley assistant coach, alongside mentor Kathy Hagerstrom, on Nov. 9.Wellesley College Athletics
• Wed, Nov 11: Schools, town offices close for Veterans Day Nov. 11 Wellesley Public Schools and town offices will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.Wellesley Public Schools

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Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.