The following was received from Minuteman’s Director of Outreach:
Wayland Remains in the Minuteman School District
Minuteman Still Accepting Student Applications from Wayland
There may be some confusion about it, but students from the Town of Wayland can still apply for admission to Minuteman High School for the Fall of 2016.
While Town Meeting in Wayland has voted to take steps to leave the District, that move requires an amendment to the Regional Agreement that created the Minuteman District. Changes in the Agreement must be approved by all 16 member towns, according to the law firm of Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane LLP which wrote a four-page legal opinion on the matter.
On December 21, the Minuteman School Committee unanimously approved a revised Regional Agreement that would allow Wayland’s withdrawal from the District. However, that Agreement must still be approved by all 16 member towns, a process that is expected to take until the end of February. “The bottom line is this: Wayland hasn’t left the district and students who live in Wayland continue to be eligible to apply for admission to Minuteman,” said George Clement, Minuteman’s Assistant Principal and Director of Admissions.
Mr. Clement said 41% of the eighth-grade class from Wayland expressed interest in visiting Minuteman for a Showcase Day tour this school year. Nineteen (19) actually secured permission slips and showed up for Showcase Day. “We’re still getting some phone calls from Wayland parents who seem to be getting some bad information,” said Mr. Clement. “We want to reassure them that the door here remains open.”
Even if the Town of Wayland is eventually allowed to leave the District, students from Wayland attending Minuteman High School are entitled to complete their high school education at Minuteman, according to Dr. Edward Bouquillon, Minuteman’s Superintendent-Director. “Students will be protected, no matter what the adults ultimately decide about Wayland’s status as a member town,” said Dr. Bouquillon.
Minuteman is currently accepting students’ online applications through its website: www.minuteman.org. Its priority application deadline is February 1.Students or parents interested in learning more are encouraged to call Minuteman’s Admissions office at (781) 861-6500, ext. 7225.
