The Plympton School Committee met in person at the Dennett Elementary School on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Lynch gave a presentation on the results of the 2022 MCAS testing. Lynch said that data was provided for Grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 for both math and ELA but noted that the science data was for just Grade 5. No test was administered in 2020, a half test was given in 2021, and in 2022, all students took the full test. Lynch said that 52 percent of Dennett students are meeting or exceeding expectations in English Landuage Arts compared to 41 percent State-wide. In math, 50 percent of Dennett students are meeting or exceeding expectations compared to just 39 percent across the State. The school’s science scores were significantly higher than the State average. Lynch called science a “bright spot” for Plympton.

“The goal here at Dennett and across the District is to try and move that number back to where it was in 2019… the goal is to get to 70 percent meeting or exceeding,” Lynch explained.  He further explained that while high achievement was noted for Dennett students, slower growth was also observed. The implementation of Collaborative Literacy in Grade 5 was among the programs instituted to ensure continued growth and improvement. A math interventionist and reading tutor is also part of the Dennett team as is a student support team who identifies students who may need increased interventions and progress tracking.

Superintendent Jill Proulx also provided an update to the Committee saying that the Admin team met with building principals regarding interventions and said that it was an important reminder of the role of data in identifying students that may need additional supports including those that are not on an IEP. She also said that herself and Lynch met with building principals, assistant principals, and local Police and Fire Departments regarding emergency support plans.

The Committee voted to join litigation against Juul Vaping for marketing its products to minors. Many other school districts, municipalities, and states have also joined the large-scale settlement. Silver Lake Regional School Committee voted to join during their last meeting as did the Halifax Elementary School Committee.

Chair Jon Wilhelmsen touched on some of the unfinished business including the ongoing issue of dog waste being left on the fields at the Dennett. Wilhelmsen summed up the problem saying, “new signs, no change.” The Plympton Police Chief has been approached regarding placing a large-scale sign by the school’s driveway. If that doesn’t yield results, the issue will again have to be revisited. Regarding the additional rubberized surfacing at the new playground, Director of Business Services Christine Healy said, “we’re on pause until later this winter to see if going out to bid is the best option.” Regarding the solar project at the Dennett, Wilhelmsen said, ““it’s still going… a bunch of emails going back and forth… trying to negotiate the agreements…. there’s just general disagreement about what should be in the contract.”

Each of the standing committees also provided a report. Committee member Jason Fraser provided the status for Admin Review saying that when they last met, they went over the Superintendent’s goals for the year. He noted that they would be meeting back with her again after the new year for the formative review process. Wilhelmsen provided the update for Negotiations saying, “all contracts are done.”

For Union 31, Superintendent Jill Proulx said that it just came to their attention that the current structure of the Silver Lake special education programs at the elementary schools isn’t allowed for under the Regional Agreement. She said that there are 34 staff members who fall under the special education umbrella in Kingston and two or three each in Plympton and Halifax. Proulx said that one of the first recommendations was to bring the pre-K into the regional agreement. Of the proposed change, Wilhelmsen said, “We voted in principle to support that.” Fraser said that DESE will give the District until June 30, 2024, to implement further changes. Proulx said, “We are working with our attorney and the Department of Education on how best to proceed.”

Fraser provided the Legislative update saying, “Next Tuesday is Election Day… please take the time to go out and vote and thank you to those people who put themselves out there to be candidates.”

Principal Peter Veneto was not in attendance so Assistant Principal Christine Marcolini provided the Principal’s Report saying that student enrollment currently stands at 238. She said that CASA put on a luncheon for staff on October 5 and that parent teacher conferences were held on October 27. Marcolini said, “We had a very successful book fair last week… we are grateful for that.” She also said that the entire staff was led in ALICE training by one of the Police Department’s officers.

Marcolini said that Melissa Ritter, a parent of a Dennett kindergartener, was hired for an open Title I reading position. She also reminded the Committee of the upcoming Thanksgiving feast at the School on November 17.

Healy provided an update on Circuit Breaker, the State’s special education reimbursement program. Healy said there is a threshold of anticipated costs and that once those costs are exceeded the Circuit Breaker kicks in and the school is eligible for some form of reimbursement usually in the 75 percent range. Anticipated costs this year are around $46,000. “We’re waiting for that final release of information, so we have some idea of where we stand at the end of the year,” Healy explained. She also told the Committee that Plympton still doesn’t have any students attending out-of-district vocational so the money that was budgeted there would likely be returned to the town at the end of the year.

Proulx told the Committee that budget season was officially underway. She said that she has asked that principals and directors submit their budget proposals for review by November 15. She also asked the School Committee to begin to think about their priorities and goals for the budget so they can work on those with their building principal.  She also shared with the Committee that homeschool enrollment has remained static for Plympton at the elementary level while increasing by one for Grades 7-12. Finally, she said that while Plympton’s shared cost percentage was previously at 13 percent, it was down to 12.5 percent for FY24.

Before adjourning for the evening, Wilhelmsen shared some important dates to remember. He said that there would be no school for students on Tuesday, November 8 while it would be an in-service day for teachers. There will be early release on November 23 and the Thanksgiving break would be on November 24 and 25. The special Town Meeting will be held on November 30 in the cafeteria of the Dennett. There will be a joint school committee meeting on December 1 and a regular meeting on December 12.

Tuesday, Nov. 8, Halifax voters will have two ballots to mark, one for the state election and another for the special election of two selectmen to fill the unexpired terms of Ashley DiCesa and

John Bruno, well known to Halifax service, will run unopposed for the term ending in 2025.

There are four candidates vying for the second seat.   They are, in alphabetical order, Dennis P. Carman, Mary Gravinese, David M. Mascio, Naja Nessralla, and Wiliam J Smith.

Each candidate brings their own special talents to the position.

In an effort to bring these qualifications to the attention of the voters, Selectman Jonathan Selig has invited each to sit in the barber’s chair at John and Son’s Barber Shop – everyone knows all serious politics are discussed there – and answer a panel of questions proposed by the voters of Halifax.   These discussions were videoed by Area 58 and will be available for public view on their website: www.area58.tv.

The Express has asked each candidate to introduce themselves to the electorate in a 300 word synopsis of what they plan to bring to the position of selectman.   These synopses will be published in the Nov. 4 edition of The Plympton-Halifax-Kingston Express.

KINGSTON -…Mayflower Church in Kingston will host its 15th Annual Crafts Fair Saturday, November 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Briggs Building at 207 Main Street. Tables are still available for crafters wishing to participate.

The event is being sponsored by the Mayflower Women’s Club. The Fair features a number of talented crafters, as well as several tables sponsored by the Mayflower Women’s Club. Anyone interested in having a table to display crafts is urged to contact Sue at 781-585-6350 or Mayflower Church at 781-585-3167.

The public is invited to come and join in for a fun day of shopping, treasure-hunting and dining. Admission is free.

Proceeds benefit local, state and global charities. Mayflower Club supports some local projects including an alcohol treatment center for adults, local food banks, and local shelters. On a statewide basis, the Club supports a Christian after-school daycare program, and a two-week outdoor (overnight) summer camp that serves underprivileged children. On a global level, the Club supports an orphanage in Romania (only about ten miles from the Russian border), providing over-the-counter medications, food, and clothing.

Crafters will offer a wide variety of beautiful wares. Also there will be a bake sale. Lunch is available, including hot dogs, chili, corn chowder, chips and beverages.

Fairgoers will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items; and, the Club is also looking for anyone with a product or gift certificate who might wish to donate it to the cause.

The public is invited to attend to see the work of crafters from throughout the region, and purchase any items of interest.

Mayflower Church is located at 207 Main Street, Kingston, MA 02364. Reverend Anton Brown serves as Pastor. For additional information, please call 781-585-3167.

KINGSTON — Author Jan Brogan will discuss her newly published book, The Combat Zone: Murder, Race, and Boston’s Struggle for Justice, on Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Adams Center.

The book has been shortlisted for a 2022 Anthony Award, and a 2021 Agatha Award.

Brogan’s book is the true account of a brutal murder in 1976, two flawed trials, and the not-so-delicate balance between justice and revenge. It tells the story of an annual Harvard ritual that sent 40 football players into Boston’s crime-plagued red-light district for a “last drink, together,” and the death of a 21-year old cornerback who tries to save a friend. Three Black men are charged with first-degree murder in a racially divided city at the peak of busing violence.

The book tells the story of a victim’s family trying to cope with a devastating loss, while verdicts seesaw, and the Italian mob offers to step in.

The murder and city’s two trials forever changed the way that juries are chosen in Massachusetts and the nation, ending the once common practice of excluding jurors based on their color of their skin.

The Combat Zone shows how a murder trial isn’t always about the victim or the accused, but about a city in turmoil and a criminal justice system in need of reform.

Brogan has been a journalist for more than 30 years, working as a correspondent for the Boston Globe, a staff writer for the Worcester Telegram, and the Providence Journal, where she won the Gerald Loeb award for distinguished business writing. In addition to being the award-winning author of four mysteries,

Transactional Pictures purchased the rights to A Confidential Source, which is currently under development for a TV series. Brogan continues to work as a novelist and journalist while teaching writing at the Boston University Summer Journalism Institute.

Following Brogan’s talk, she will be on hand to answer questions about her novel. Copies of The Combat Zone will be available for purchase after the discussion.

To register for this free event, please visit http://kingstonpubliclibrary.org.

For more information, you can contact Steven Miller, Reference Librarian at (781) 585-0517 x6272 or at smiller@kingstonma.gov.

The Town of Halifax would like to welcome our new Fire Chief Mike Witham to the Halifax community. Mike brings 30 plus years of experience in fire service and most recently had been serving as a Captain for the Town of Pembroke. Mike is very familiar with Halifax and its fire crew as he has assisted out on countless mutual aid calls here in town over the years.

We would also like to take this time to thank Halifax Captain Jeff Cuozzo for stepping up and serving in the role of acting chief until Mike was brought onboard. Mike’s first day at the station was Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. Feel free to stop by and say hello.

We’re excited to have you, Mike. Welcome aboard!

The Halifax Elementary School Committee met on Monday, Aug. 30. They began by assigning liaisons to various subcommittees. James Keegan was named to Youth and Recreation, Karyn Townsend was named to PTO, and School Committee Chair Summer Schmaling remained on Bylaw though she noted that they had not met in her eight years on the School Committee.

Schmaling then brought up her wish to create a Curriculum Development subcommittee. She described the intent behind the subcommittee saying, “just keeping eyes on what’s happening in our classroom… just personally, I would like to keep closer eyes on what’s coming down from the State.” Committee member Lauren Laws asked Schmaling what kind of authority she saw the subcommittee having. Laws further said that she trusted Curriculum Director Melissa Farrell and felt that she should be involved in the subcommittee. “I don’t personally have education credentials, so I don’t suppose to have the expertise,” Laws said.

The topic turned into a heated debate with Keegan and Schmaling on one side and Laws and Townsend on the other. Laws said that she felt that the idea of the subcommittee seemed a bit redundant while Townsend said that an email had already been sent out on Parent Square with links to curriculum resources.

Schmaling said, “Curriculum is changing rapidly and a lot of times what’s presented to us is very surface as opposed to what is actually happening.” Townsend asked Schmaling for an example. “Perfect example is I had several concerned parents reach out to me last year and tell me that their child was told to write an essay about Christopher Columbus and why we should be canceling Columbus Day – that was a concern for me.” She also cited changes to the social and emotional learning curriculum. Laws said she didn’t hear any of those concerns last year and Schmaling noted that certain people would be more comfortable coming to her about those types of concerns as herself and Laws fall “on opposite sides of the spectrum.”

Superintendent Jill Proulx said, “We do have policies related to curriculum so we would want to make sure that whatever the objectives of the Committee, they do not violate the policies that are already in place and the authority of the educators and the State of Massachusetts.” “I’m not trying to change any curriculum,” Schmaling said. Laws pointed out that the curriculum framework comes down from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) saying, “our schools are some of the best in the nation.”

Townsend continued to press Schmaling for what exactly she saw the purpose of the subcommittee to be to which she responded, “The purpose is to examine and digest the curriculum and the changes that are ever flowing through it.” Townsend said she wasn’t clear on how something like that would be addressed within the subcommittee and pointed out that there is a process in place at the Middle School if parents were to express concern over the appropriateness of a book. Proulx rsponded, “we do have a reconsideration of materials policy.” “I have a lot of concern with what’s happening in our schools right now and I’ll tell you something right now, in neighboring communities they are much further down this hole than we are and I would like to prevent Halifax from going down that hole. I had a mom in Pembroke call me in tears because her sixth grader…” she then said to other committee members, “don’t smile at me like that,” before proceeding saying, “her sixth grader had to write an essay about abortion. That is disgusting in my opinion, and I want to make sure that that doesn’t happen in Halifax Elementary School.”

Laws said, “But what is stopping parents from talking to the teachers about their concerns? This is a problem in our society – we jump to conclusions, we go to the person we know is going to help us and then instead of having a conversation at the level where it should happen – with the teacher…” She was then cut off by Schmaling who said, “Right, so our job would be to guide that person.”

Schmaling argued for a limited committee of two while Townsend argued for a larger subcommittee of five. Keegan asked, in what appeared to be sarcasm, why don’t they just change all subcommittees to include all five members of the larger School Committee.

Jessica Page, Schmaling, and Keegan voted in favor of the formation of the subcommittee. Schmaling then named herself and Page to the subcommittee. When questioned by Townsend as to whether she could participate Schmaling said, “Nope. I as the Chair will appoint two people to the subcommittee.” Townsend was named as the alternate.

Asst. Superintendent Ryan Lynch read from some updates to school policies including a wellness policy update that stipulated that taking away physical activity should not be utilized as a punishment. He explained, “There’s a lot of research coming out of educational circles that says children need to move and exert physical energy that are having a hard time in the classroom; it is not recommended that making the student sort of like miss recess would be a good technique to use to help that student improve their behavior.”

Halifax Elementary School Principal Kayne Beaudry told the Committee that enrollment currently stands at 574 students. He also said that new faculty included a few new special education teachers and a long-term substitute for the adjustment counselor who is on maternity leave until December. Beaudry said that while the summer felt short, he was excited for the upcoming year.

Proulx began her update by introducing David Turcotte, the new Director of Human Resources. “He’s been doing a wonderful job; we really appreciate having him and some of the things he’s been doing to really streamline our processes,” Proulx said. She noted that the start of the school year tends to have a lot of “HR pieces to it.”

Proulx also told the Committee that universal free meals were extended through the 2022-2023 school year. She said that the Department of Education and Department of Public Health issued a joint statement regarding COVID guidelines for the new school year. She said, “the Commonwealth is not recommending universal masking requirements, surveillance and testing of asymptomatic individuals, contact tracing, or testing to stay/testing in schools.” She said that only the school health office would have a masking requirement. Proulx further said that those that continue to choose to mask will be supported in that choice.

Regarding District goals, Proulx said that the goal for all the schools is to have at least 70 percent of students meeting or exceeding MCAS standards. She called it a “challenging but realistic goal.” Currently the percentages for 2021 for all schools are 59 percent for ELA, 45 percent for math, and 52 percent for science. She acknowledged that testing is not the only measure of student success.

Proulx also said they are currently working on website updates to ensure that outdated information is discarded, and new information is added.

Before adjourning, Schmaling provided some dates to remember including that September 29 will be an early release. She noted that students will be provided lunches on half days this year.