Plympton School Committee Sets Ambitious Academic Goals, Reviews Budget Challenges
Committee aims for 70% proficiency in reading and math while preparing for potential future override needs
PLYMPTON - May 27 - The Plympton School Committee is working toward ambitious academic goals while navigating budget challenges that may require a tax override in coming years. At their recent meeting, committee members reviewed student performance data and discussed strategies to reach 70% proficiency in reading and math across all grade levels.
The committee reorganized its leadership, with Jason Fraser elected as chair, Jon Wilhelmsen as vice chair, and Robert Montgomery as secretary.
"We're creating a structure consistent K-2 Phonics instruction model which includes dedicated Orton-Gillingham integrity," says Peter Veneto, principal of Dennett Elementary School, describing efforts to improve literacy outcomes.
Dennett Elementary currently has 252 students enrolled. The school is implementing a comprehensive data analysis approach to track student progress throughout the year rather than relying solely on end-of-year MCAS testing.
"One of the things that I feel like we as a district have really honed in and started to do a really nice job in the last few years is looking at data throughout the school year, not just looking at MCAS," Veneto explains. "The fact that we have various data points that we can look at throughout the school year, make changes as necessary, put interventions into place as necessary where we see fit."
The school uses DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) and STAR assessments to monitor student progress in reading and math. Current data shows varying levels of achievement across grade levels, with some grades already approaching the 70% proficiency target.
When data revealed concerns in third-grade literacy scores, staff quickly adjusted their approach.
"What we've done for third grade specifically is we go into the classroom now instead of pulling out small groups because we notice as a whole the students need more help rather than a small group of students," explains a staff member. "Instead of with a small group of students it's with a whole class."
Superintendent Dr. Jill Proulx emphasizes that while 70% proficiency is the current benchmark, the ultimate goal remains higher.
"We struggled with this as an administrative team. I personally struggled with this as superintendent but looking at our scores coming out of COVID and recognizing the percentages that we would have to leap in order to get to 70%," Proulx says. "If I don't believe in 100%, who will? Right? So I need everybody to believe in 100%."
The district is implementing a new math curriculum for the 2025-26 school year. Dr. Tricia Clifford reports that after reviewing options from January to April, the district selected HMH for grades K-8.
"We're putting together professional development... The hope is that the materials come in soon. Teachers can look at them and review them over the summer," Clifford says. "I'm also working with Brian DeSantes and Dan Correa to create an implementation plan for that new curriculum."
The committee also discussed significant budget challenges. Fraser recounted the difficulties of the FY25 budget, which was constrained by growth in the Silver Lake’s budget and required trimming back expenses.
"We ended up realizing over $100,000 more in long-term substitutes in FY25 than we had actually budgeted for," Fraser notes. "We had used some historic numbers to come up with our budget."
Additional costs came from special education services and the required hiring of an ELL teacher to meet state requirements.
Wilhelmsen warns that future budgets may require difficult choices, potentially including a tax override.
"Forty percent of the town voted to replace a fire station that is no longer functional. And that's a tangible thing that you can touch. That doesn't bode well for a future override which again nobody can touch," Wilhelmsen says. "If we do an override it's going to be in order to try and maintain what we have."
Fraser suggests the committee's role is to present clear options to voters.
"I think it would be our job to look at what it would take to continue to run the school at the level that it's at currently and if that requires an override that we present all of that information to our town," Fraser says. "Our job isn't necessarily to try and convince people of one or the other but to give them all the facts and information so they can make an educated decision."
The committee also discussed:
- A regionalization study being conducted with Halifax and Kingston to explore potential savings
- The upcoming Fun Run fundraiser with a goal of $25,000
- End-of-year activities including Bike to School Day, field days, and a sixth-grade moving-on ceremony
- The appointment of Pedro Martinez as the next Commissioner of Education
The committee's next meeting is scheduled for July 14 and will be held remotely.