Plymouth school leaders weigh moving Early Childhood Center to Plymouth South Middle School amid staff concerns

Plymouth school administrators on April 7 recommended relocating the Plymouth Early Childhood Center (the district preschool program) from PCIS to the lower level of Plymouth South Middle School, saying the move would use existing district space and create a dedicated floor for preschool programing about 18 months from now.

The recommendation, presented by Superintendent Erica Campbell, was met with detailed public comments from preschool staff and parents and with questions from school committee members about space, safety and long-term capacity. Teachers and therapists urged the committee to delay any final decision until the district provides more information, including cost estimates, site visits and a clearer long-term plan.

The administration framed the proposal as a response to a 41% increase in preschool referrals over five years and limited expansion options at the current site, PCIS. Campbell said the South Middle site is centrally located on Long Pond Road, roughly 3.9 miles door-to-door from PCIS, and that administrators view the lower level as a way to reduce congestion, provide a dedicated drop-off and offer additional storage and office space not available at PCIS.

Preschool staff who spoke during public comment described specific program needs they fear would be compromised by the move. Jamie McAfferry, a special education teacher at the Plymouth Early Childhood Center, said the proposed space “feels not only lateral, but a decrease” in accessibility and services. Speech-language staff raised acoustic and safety concerns about a proposed therapy room that is currently a chemistry lab. Meredith Wodzinski, one of the preschool’s special education teachers, said the proposed pickup route would rely on a single exit without sidewalks and that the proposed outdoor play area would be significantly smaller than the existing space. Wodzinski asked the committee to “table this vote until there is a viable plan presented to create a permanent home” for the preschool.

Committee members echoed the request for more detail. Several asked for a site visit to South Middle, a comparative cost estimate for renovations and clarification of how the district would comply with Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requirements for preschool facilities (committee members noted concerns about bathroom counts and accessible loading/unloading areas). Campbell said the district could provide estimates and plans and that facilities and career-and-technical-education students could help retrofit spaces, reducing some construction costs; she estimated roughly $200,000 for initial renovation work, with about $70,000 of that for a playground, but committee members said they wanted itemized bids and proposals.

Administrators described operational benefits, including a dedicated rear entrance and reception area, nearby parking, existing storage closets, and proximity to Plymouth North’s health and early-education programs as potential partners for hands-on learning opportunities. South Middle principal remarks noted the middle-school enrollment decline that has left classroom space available; principal testimony indicated staff on the upper floors would be relocated to comparable classrooms so middle-school programs would not be displaced by preschool occupancy.

Rather than moving immediately, the committee’s discussion trended toward taking more time. Multiple members suggested convening a working group of administrators, preschool staff, parents and facilities staff; scheduling tours of both sites; and returning with a comparative analysis of options (stay at PCIS, relocate to South Middle, or a phased two-campus approach). The committee did not take a final vote on the relocation at the April 7 meeting.

The superintendent said she is not recommending delaying action “until next year” because she prefers to use current operational funds and to allow facilities time (about 18 months) to ready the site if the committee approves. Members asked for a follow-up packet addressing: detailed renovation costs, projected recurring personnel or supervision costs for split campuses, a pros-and-cons assessment, alternatives analysis including the district’s MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority) work on a future elementary project, and staff and family feedback gathered since the public comments. They also requested a tour of the South Middle space prior to any final decision.

The discussion concluded with agreement to gather the requested additional information, schedule site visits and consider forming a stakeholder working group before any vote. The committee did not set a formal deadline for a decision but signaled the issue would return to a future meeting for further analysis.