Plymouth Schools Face $616,204 Budget Shortfall for FY26
Officials Express Confidence in Maintaining Educational Quality Despite Fiscal Challenges
PLYMOUTH - December 2 - Plymouth Public Schools are grappling with a $616,204 budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year 2026, representing about 0.5% of the total $127 million budget. School officials expressed confidence in navigating the challenge without sacrificing educational quality, though concerns remain about the long-term sustainability of current service levels.
Superintendent Christopher Campbell presented the proposed FY26 budget to the School Committee and Advisory and Finance Committee on Dec. 2, outlining the fiscal challenges and strategies to address them.
"While we know that we're going to need to make some reductions in spending, I'm confident that we can navigate that challenge without sacrificing the quality of education," Campbell said.
The district has already made significant cuts in recent years, eliminating 29 positions last year and 15 the year before. These reductions have impacted various areas, including literacy coaches, custodial staff, and paraprofessionals.
Patty Fry, the South High School Principal, highlighted the impact of these cuts: "We reduced a position for an automotive teacher last year who retired. The kids are still getting an incredible education, but it's being more taxing on the teachers."
Despite the challenges, Plymouth schools have maintained a high graduation rate of approximately 97%, with about 70% of students pursuing higher education.
The proposed budget includes a $4.9 million increase in salaries due to contractual obligations. Special education services, transportation, and tuition costs also contribute significantly to the budget pressures.
Adam Blaisdell, School Business Administrator, explained, "Our special ed tuitions right now are about $1 million over. When we look at that, we need to look at other areas in the budget in regards to where do we pull from to sustain those costs."
The district is exploring various strategies to manage the budget deficit, including delaying final decisions until spring to allow for potential changes in enrollment and financial data.
Campbell emphasized the district's track record in navigating budget challenges: "In the last five years, we've had a proven track record of really navigating some successful budget challenges from, you know, we've had upwards of over $2 million reductions and some very tumultuous, very challenging times."
Facilities maintenance remains a significant concern. A 2021 study indicated that many of the district's buildings are reaching the end of their useful life. Matthew Durkee, Director of Facilities, addressed these concerns: "We're dealing with multiple situations in this district where you have newer buildings that have higher technology equipment that we don't understand, so we're working through that."
The district is pursuing a statement of interest with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to potentially consolidate two aging elementary schools into one new facility.
Mental health support for students was also discussed, with the district having added school adjustment counselors at every school. However, officials acknowledged that additional support could be beneficial.
The School Committee will hold a public hearing on the budget on Dec. 16, followed by a joint meeting with the Select Board and Advisory and Finance Committee on Jan. 14.