Plympton School Committee warns tax override likely needed for fiscal year 2028

PLYMPTON — June 15, 2026 — Plympton School Committee warns residents a Proposition 2 1/2 override is likely coming as the town's stabilization reserve falls to under $600,000 after an $800,000 drawdown to balance the current school budget. Legislative representative Jason Fraser delivered the alert during the committee's June 15 reorganization meeting, saying town leadership — the Select Board, Finance Committee, and town manager — have unified around the expectation of an override for fiscal year 2028, and that further cuts to staff hours and programs are likely without one. On a brighter note, Fraser reported that Senator Dylan Fernandez and Representative Kathy secured $59,000 in state earmarks for Dennett Elementary, including $35,000 for a building engineering report and $14,000 for emergency roof repairs. Principal Peter Bonito presented end-of-year DIBELS literacy scores showing an 18-point swing from winter to spring, closing the year at 77 percent, though Star Reading scores held flat at 59 percent and a new McGraw-Hill ELA curriculum called Wonders is being introduced in hopes of moving that number. The committee set a July 15 application deadline to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of member John Wilhelmsen, with a Select Board appointment expected to follow in September.