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Trick or treat?
Welcome back!
And welcome to a Halloween edition of Sudbury Weekly. It’s that time of year when we artificially boost the economy, and next year’s health insurance premiums, with highly-processed candy products. Here’s to a safe evening for everyone - though we already know it’s safer than the cyclists blowing through Hudson Road on the rail trail. Who knew the Venn diagram of cyclists and people who love Frogger was a perfect circle?
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Calendar Subcommittee Opts Not to Make Calendar Recommendations
Sudbury Couple Performs in Weston Friendly Society’s Production of “She Loves Me”
Sim Resigns from SPS School Committee
Deep Dive: Staffing Levels In Town Government
Got Burger? Finding Your Favorite Burger In Sudbury
L-S Athletics Postseason Update
Events!
Let’s get into it!
Calendar Subcommittee Opts Not to Make Calendar Recommendations
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
After months of data collection, meetings with local faith leaders, and in-depth deliberations, a Tri-District Calendar Review School Subcommittee decided not make any recommendations on school calendars.
The subcommittee, which was composed of members of the Sudbury Public Schools School Committee, the Lincoln Public Schools School Committee and the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School School Committee, was tasked with evaluating school calendars, finding areas to align the calendars of the three districts, and to make recommendations on calendar or policy changes where appropriate.
During the October 29 meeting of the subcommittee, members opted not to make any recommendations at all.
Sudbury Couple Performs in Weston Friendly Society’s Production of “She Loves Me”
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
Sudbury residents and engaged couple Caroline Granahan and Graham Small are headed to the stage together in Weston. The pair is appearing in the Weston Friendly Society’s (WFS) production of the classic musical, “She Loves Me,” running from November 22-29 at the Weston Town Hall.
The romantic comedy, which Deadline called “the best Broadway musical you’ve never heard of,” is based on the same 1937 play that was the original inspiration for the 1998 film “You’ve Got Mail,” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
Sim Resigns from SPS School Committee
NEWS
By Kevin LaHaise
The Sudbury Public Schools (SPS) School Committee is down one member following the resignation of member Mandy Sim.
Sim resigned “effectively immediately” in a resignation letter submitted on Wednesday October 29.
In her resignation letter, Sim stated that she was no longer able to commit the time necessary to serve:
Deep Dive: Staffing Levels In Town Government
FEATURES
By Kevin LaHaise
The Town of Sudbury recently published a Budget and Financial Study spanning nearly a decade, covering Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) through Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Sudbury Weekly covered many of the highlights in a previous article, but has continued to dig into various aspects of the massive and incredibly detailed report.
In the latest review, trends in staffing data caught our eye. While many residents may assume that staffing would increase significantly with the overall budget and town growth over the years, the data tells a different story.
At the highest level, total “Full Time Equivalent” (FTE) employees of the Town have only increased from 170 in FY17 to 180 in FY26. Town employees are counted separate from school employees, which we will get to shortly.
Got Burger? Finding Your Favorite Burger In Sudbury
FEATURES
By Kevin LaHaise
Sudbury Weekly has previously reported on the “State of the Sudbury Food Scene,” but what about just… burgers?
As it turns out, Sudbury doesn’t have as many full-service restaurants with burgers on the menu as you might expect. In fact, we could only find four full-service destinations with burgers. What Sudbury lacks in burger destinations, it makes up for with burger varieties available. Here’s what you need to know when you’re craving a burger in Sudbury.
L-S Athletics Postseason Update
SPORTS
By the L-S Athletics Department
Events!
Parting Thoughts
Things are going to get very interesting in the next few months. SPS is in the midst of contract negotiations with the teacher’s union, budget guidance will be going out fairly soon to the cost centers, and the budget building process will hit a fever pitch in December.
You know what else is happening in December? A Special Town Meeting for two school roofs, and whatever else finds its way onto the warrant. By the way — the MSBA approved the SPS roof projects this week, so Special Town Meeting is definitely happening… and a special election will follow if Town Meeting gives the roofs a thumbs-up.
Around that time, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will start moving towards decisions on which projects to recommend to Town Meeting in May of 2026. The CPC process is usually the earliest indication of what you can expect at Annual Town Meeting each year.
The Town Manager is likely to give the State of the Town report in the next couple months, and the Select Board will likely be reviewing a report from the Division of Local Services on financial management in Sudbury. Those conversations could lead to some warrant articles for May, as well.
If that isn’t enough action for you… the Town Election season typically begins early in the new year…
Onward!