Christina Bryant Appointed to Plymouth School Committee
District Implements New Graduation Requirements Following MCAS Vote
PLYMOUTH - January 6 - The Plymouth School Committee, jointly with the Select Board, appointed Christina Bryant to fill a vacant seat and adopted new graduation requirements for the class of 2025 during its Jan. 6 meeting.
Six candidates were interviewed in open session before the joint appointment of the School Committee and Select Board. Bryant currently serves as chief operating officer at a shelter in Dorchester for women and children experiencing homelessness.
"I've been able to bring concerns to both parties and have those concerns addressed," Bryant said, referring to her experience bridging communication between the School Committee and Select Board.
The joint session concluded with the appointment of Bryant to fill the vacant seat left by Michelle Badger. Bryant received six votes from the joint boards, edging out candidates Bethany Rogers and Ronan Buchanan.
Bryant highlighted her experience on diversity and inclusion efforts, including serving on Plymouth Public Schools' DEI committee and as vice chair for Plymouth No Place for Hate.
"I see the vision where if I lived in South school system and for whatever reason decided to move to North, it would be little disruption," Bryant said, emphasizing her goal of consistency across the district.
The committee also implemented new competency determination requirements following the repeal of MCAS as a graduation requirement. Students must now successfully complete grade 10 English, Algebra I, Geometry and Biology to demonstrate competency.
Superintendent Christopher Campbell emphasized these new requirements are in addition to existing graduation requirements.
"We're not asking you to vote on a new graduation requirement. I want to be clear on that," Campbell said. "This graduation requirement we just shared that so the community understands that we have a rigorous graduation requirement."
The new competency determination applies only to the class of 2025. Campbell said he expects further guidance from the state for future classes.
"I would imagine that something will come and other things may come as well," he said.
School officials noted the district is well-positioned to implement the new requirements due to existing practices.
"We're actually in a really good place because our handbook does outline our academic requirements," said Assistant Superintendent Stacey Rogers.
Plymouth North High School Principal Peter Parcellin added that the district has maintained final exams, unlike some other districts that eliminated them when MCAS was introduced.
"We have final course exams that are consistent within both high schools in those core areas," Parcellin said.
Committee members expressed support for the administration's recommendations.
"I think that this is a choice that would make a lot more equity across the district," Bryant said. "If we decide to, if you would move the goalpost we may be losing kids along the way within months of graduation and that's not fair."
The committee unanimously approved the new competency determination requirements.
In other business, Campbell provided updates on the district's eligibility for state funding for a new elementary school. The Massachusetts School Building Authority invited Plymouth into a 270-day eligibility period on Dec. 18.
"We attended an orientation on December 18th," Campbell said. "MSBA board directors voted to invite us in as you know to the eligibility period based on our statement of interest and the MSBA staff recommendations."
The district must complete several requirements during this period, including forming a school building committee and completing an educational profile.
Campbell also announced the fiscal year 2026 budget presentation to the joint boards will take place Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. in Town Hall.
The next School Committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27, when the committee will reorganize and elect new leadership.