Plymouth School Committee Gives Superintendent Exemplary Evaluation
Campbell praised for leadership in instructional improvements and community engagement; district reports significant reduction in chronic absenteeism
PLYMOUTH - June 2 - The Plymouth School Committee gives Superintendent Dr. Chris Campbell an exemplary rating in his annual evaluation, highlighting his strong leadership and strategic vision in advancing key district priorities throughout the 2023-2024 school year.
Committee Chair Luis Pizano presents the evaluation at the June 2 meeting, noting that Dr. Campbell receives the highest possible rating of "exemplary" in instructional leadership, while achieving "proficient" ratings in management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture.
"Dr. Campbell has had a great year. The family, students, and Plymouth community at large continue to feel fortunate to have Dr. Campbell at the helm of the district and its schools," Pizano says while reading from the evaluation. "He has worked hard to ensure every student receives a quality education, and he does an excellent job of keeping the community engaged and supportive of the district's needs and priorities."
The committee particularly commends Dr. Campbell for his data-informed decision-making, transparency, and focus on equity and operational efficiency.
"Overall, Dr. Campbell's work this past year reflects a high level of dedication, thoughtful planning, and meaningful progress in advancing the district's mission," Pizano adds.
In response, Dr. Campbell expresses gratitude for the positive evaluation while crediting his leadership team.
"I absolutely love being in Plymouth. This is my community and I feel honored to be here," Campbell says. "The words you read are really reflective of, again, this leadership team... I just really feel blessed to be here and there's always room for improvement and we recognize that."
The evaluation highlights Dr. Campbell's success in reducing chronic absenteeism through targeted interventions and community partnerships. This achievement is further detailed in a presentation by Sean Halpin, Director of Student Services, and Ben Janulewicz, Supervisor of Attendance.
Janulewicz reports that the district's attendance rate now fluctuates between 92% and 97% throughout the school year, with an average of 95-96% when accounting for excused absences. This represents a significant improvement over previous years and is substantially better than national averages.
"Your numbers are like half the national," notes Committee member Katherine Jackson.
The district's "Be Present" campaign, launched at the beginning of the school year, plays a key role in this success. The initiative includes consistent messaging across all schools, with a particular focus on kindergarten and first grade students.
"We thought what better way to message than to start with the folks that are really coming into our district for the first time," Janulewicz explains.
The campaign includes four videos created by EdTV featuring students and staff from different schools and grade levels, making the messaging more relatable to both parents and students. The district also implements a consistent five-day attendance letter system across all schools to address unexcused absences early.
Janulewicz emphasizes the importance of community partnerships in addressing attendance issues, including monthly truancy summits and collaboration with the Plymouth Family Resource Center.
For students with severe attendance problems, the district uses Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) filings with local courts as a supportive rather than punitive measure. Of the 17 students on CRAs this year, 15 have already met their goals and had their cases dismissed.
"It can seem like it's a punitive step, but it really is supportive," Janulewicz says. "They're able to get services in place for families faster and more efficiently than we might otherwise be able to help with."
The committee also receives updates on several other district initiatives:
* Transportation Legislation: Dr. Campbell announces he will testify at the statehouse in support of two bills filed by Representative Badger addressing equitable funding for non-regional school districts with high transportation costs and eliminating predatory transportation pricing.
* MSBA Process: The district submits its enrollment and education profile for Hedge School, with projections to be discussed at an August 29 meeting.
* Preschool Space: Following site visits to the current preschool space at PCIS and proposed space at South Middle School, a refined presentation and recommendation will be presented at the next meeting.
* Latino Educator Awards: Two Plymouth educators, Mari Costa and Ann Hassett, receive the 2025 Latino Educator Shine Awards, recognized at the Statehouse for their contributions to education.
* Upcoming Events: The district prepares for academic convocations at South High School on Wednesday and North High School on Thursday, followed by graduation ceremonies on Saturday.
The meeting also includes comprehensive presentations on the Plymouth Early Childhood Center by Principal Denise Tobin and on student services by Halpin, covering school counseling, English learners, and other support programs.
The committee unanimously approves Dr. Campbell's evaluation, with new member Paul Samargedlis abstaining as he was not part of the evaluation process.