Plympton School Budget Deficit Shrinks, Communication Concerns Raised
Parents push for improved notifications on incidents, bullying
PLYMPTON - December 9 - The Plympton School Committee reported progress in addressing a budget deficit, reducing it from $257,664 to $46,626 through budget freezes, special education reserve funds, and unexpected revenue.
Sarah Hickey, Director of Finance and Operations, presented a detailed spreadsheet outlining the current financial situation. The FY25 budget approved by town meeting was $3,975,000, but unexpected expenditures increased that to $4,232,664.88, creating the initial deficit.
"The projected savings from the budget freeze was $60,431.89, bringing the deficit down to $197,232.99," Hickey said.
Additional relief came from $38,863 in tuition for extended school year services from Halifax, $50,000 from a special education reserve fund approved by the Select Board, and $62,743 in excess circuit breaker and grant funds.
The committee is working with town officials to address the remaining shortfall. Committee members discussed the possibility of adding back a paraprofessional position to meet staffing needs.
"I think when we're all said and done, we should put that back into it," said Jon Wilhelmsen. "Because, again, part of the logic here is that if we don't have the right staff in the building, and we don't have enough of the staff in the building, then we're not able to keep kids in the building."
Parents at the meeting expressed frustration with the school's communication regarding incidents and bullying, prompting discussions on improving timely notifications and preventative measures.
One parent, Danielle, said, "Whether there's a threat made, a fight, serious or not, I know kids can dramatize things and make things up. Parents should be aware."
Committee members emphasized the importance of communicating with parents before students return home from school after an incident. They suggested creating a library of pre-written messages for different situations to facilitate quicker responses.
Principal Peter Veneto acknowledged the need for improvement in communication. "In looking back at what transpired last week, I wish that I had gone a little quicker with the note that I sent out, so I apologize to all the families for that," he said.
Veneto committed to developing better communication protocols, including drafting standardized messages for various scenarios.
"I would overcommunicate rather than undercommunicate," Wilhelmsen advised. "And even if it's just enough of like a very simple, basic, 'Hey, just so you know, we spoke to the class about X today.'"
The committee also discussed the need for more proactive measures to prevent bullying. Veneto assured that all reported incidents are thoroughly investigated, but acknowledged the challenges in sharing information due to confidentiality concerns.
Christine Marcolini, Coordinator of Student Support, highlighted ongoing efforts to address bullying, including classroom programs and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). She emphasized the importance of early communication from families about potential issues.
"It's so helpful for us when the kids let us know, or if we get messages from the families, too, like, 'Hey, just want to let you know there's a little bit, something's happening on the bus or something's happening at recess,'" Marcolini, said.
The committee requested data on bullying incidents over time to assess the effectiveness of current programs.
In other business, Superintendent Jill Proulx announced that a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Kingston Police Department regarding the school resource officer program.
Proulx also praised Christine Panarese, Director of Student Services, for creating a comprehensive special education manual. "It's a very helpful document, not only for our staff, but ultimately for our students and parents, as everyone benefits from clear and not only compliant, but consistent expectations across the district," Proulx said.
The next Plympton School Committee meeting is scheduled for Jan. 27. A joint meeting with other local school committees, town managers, and finance committees will be held Jan. 16 at Kingston Town Hall to discuss preliminary budget ideas for the upcoming fiscal year.