PLYMPTON - September 8 - The Plympton School Committee unanimously approved a new three-year contract with the Plympton Teachers Association featuring 3% annual cost-of-living increases, while celebrating a major victory in securing $133,000 in state funding to overhaul the district's reading curriculum through the prestigious PRISM grant program.
The Full Story
The committee's September meeting marked significant progress on multiple fronts, with Chair Jason Fraser highlighting successful negotiations that concluded months of contract discussions. "We did negotiate a new contract with the Plympton Teachers Association," reported member Jon Wilhelmsen, noting the agreement includes "cost of living increases of 3% per year over each of the three years" plus language changes requested by the union.
The PRISM (Partnership for Reading Success in Massachusetts) grant represents an unprecedented investment in early literacy at the Dennett Elementary School. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Tricia Clifford, who spearheaded the application process, explained that the $133,000 award will fund teacher stipends for curriculum review work, provide access to state-vetted consultants from The New Teacher Project, and cover half the cost of implementing a new English language arts program for grades K-6.
"This will help us pay stipends to teachers to work beyond the contractual time to be on a committee, to actually be the folks who look at the curriculum and review it and pilot it," Dr. Clifford said. The grant, part of Governor Healey's literacy launch initiative, focuses on implementing evidence-based reading instruction grounded in the science of reading.
Chair Fraser emphasized the grant's significance, noting it represents "over 3.5% of our annual budget" and will target "those early readers, the most critical point in determining the future success of students." The funding addresses declining reading scores both statewide and locally, providing resources to strengthen phonics, decoding skills, and other research-proven techniques.
The committee also addressed several operational matters, including ongoing discussions about the School Resource Officer program. Members sent a letter to the Board of Selectmen reaffirming their "full support of the program in its current formation with SRO Tim Johnson, especially after the successful implementation of the LEAD program." The SRO position, funded through the police department budget rather than the school budget, originated from parent requests in 2023.
Following Dan Cadogan's resignation to join the Finance Committee, the school committee announced plans to interview candidates for the vacant position on October 27th at 5:00 p.m. The appointment requires joint approval from both the School Committee and Selectmen, with the chosen candidate serving until May town elections.
Financial reporting showed improved transparency with the implementation of a new chart of accounts system. Director of Finance Sarah Hickey reported successful completion of the conversion, providing "meaningful reports out of our financial system" that should prevent the budget fluctuations experienced in FY25. The district ended that fiscal year with only a $10,000 deficit after facing potential shortfalls of up to $350,000 earlier in the year.
The committee approved additional signage to address persistent problems with dogs on athletic fields, despite acknowledging that enforcement remains challenging. "It just seems that people don't want to read those signs," noted Wilhelmsen, though the committee unanimously supported the Recreation Department's request for more prominent postings.
Regarding field control, the committee voted to clarify with the Board of Selectmen that athletic fields should be under town jurisdiction rather than school policy oversight. This change would allow organizations like PAYS (Plympton Athletic Youth Sports) to display fundraising banners and championship commemorations without conflicting with restrictive school advertising policies.
Professional development initiatives included summer courses for teachers and administrators, a new teacher orientation, and extensive training on the new HMH math curriculum. Dr. Clifford noted the implementation represents "a lot of blood, sweat, and tears from the teachers" but expressed optimism about improved outcomes by spring 2026.
The district enrolled 256 students for the new school year, including 35 kindergarteners. Principal Peter Veneto reported strong attendance at the August 25th open house and praised students' quick adaptation to school routines, noting kindergarteners showed remarkable progress after just three days.
Looking ahead to budget season, the committee approved an aggressive timeline aimed at providing preliminary FY27 budget information to the town by December. Superintendent Dr. Jill Proulx cautioned that federal and state funding uncertainties could significantly impact final numbers, with Chair Fraser noting that over 25% of the Dennett's budget comes from external sources.
Why It Matters
The three-year teacher contract provides salary stability and predictability for both educators and budget planning, while the $133,000 PRISM grant represents a transformational investment in early literacy that could significantly improve reading outcomes for Plympton students. Together, these developments position the district for sustained educational improvement while maintaining fiscal responsibility during uncertain economic times.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve and ratify three-year Plympton Teachers Association contract with 3% annual increases. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:56)
Motion: Grant Recreation Department request for additional no-dogs signage on athletic fields. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 20:09)
Motion: Allow PAYS to install AED machine at snack shack. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 22:08)
Motion: Reach out to Board of Selectmen to clarify town control of athletic fields. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 31:13)
Motion: Accept grants and gifts totaling $179,664. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 58:12)
Public Comment
No members of the public addressed the committee during the designated public comment period, though Recreation Department representative Becky Archambeault to discuss signage and AED placement issues.
What's Next
The committee will conduct interviews for the vacant school committee position on October 27th at 5:00 p.m. Early release days are scheduled for September 25th and October 23rd, with dismissal at 12:30 p.m. The Policy Committee will meet in two and a half weeks to discuss compliance with updated federal and state laws.