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 Board of Selectmen, 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 Board of Selectmen appointment expected to follow in September.