Plainfield Public Schools

May 12th, 2026

Good afternoon, Plainfield Community,
I wanted to reach out and share some helpful information about our upcoming budget vote. My goal is to ensure our entire community is well-informed and has all the details needed to participate.

Our budget vote is coming up on Monday, May 18th. This will be an in-person vote taking place at Town Hall. I am pleased to share that the proposed budget represents a 0.79 reduction in the mill rate. If you would like to review the details, you can easily find more information about the budget on both the school and town websites, as well as at the following link: https://www.plainfieldschools.org/board_of_education/budget_information.

For those wondering whether absentee ballots are available, the answer is yes. However, please note that for this specific vote, absentee ballots must be completed in person. If you are unavailable to vote on Monday, you can conveniently complete your in-person absentee ballot at the Town Clerk's office this Wednesday or Thursday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any further questions. We are always here to help. Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.

Best regards,
Paul M. Brenton

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January 28, 2026

Dear Plainfield Community Members,

In preparation for our budget presentation on Wednesday, January 28th, I am pleased to share the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. This proposal represents our commitment to maintaining high-quality education for our students while navigating a challenging financial landscape.

Budget Overview: The proposed operating budget for FY 2026-27 totals $40,690,001. This represents an expenditure increase of 3.99% ($1,562,180) over the current fiscal year.

It is important to view this proposal in the context of our shifting revenue landscape. We are anticipating a revenue loss of approximately $305,000 next year, primarily due to a decrease in out-of-town tuition students at Plainfield High School. This decline is driven by a large graduating class from Sterling being replaced by a smaller incoming cohort. When accounting for this loss in revenue, the budget represents an effective increase of 4.77% regarding the total budget impact.

Balancing Excellence with Fiscal Responsibility despite these revenue challenges, this proposal reflects a strategic effort to balance educational excellence with fiscal responsibility. The budget is shaped by two primary factors:

Fixed Charges: The primary driver of the expenditure increase is found within Fixed Charges (Benefits and Insurance), which rose by 13.14% ($920,977). This line item alone accounts for a significant portion of the total budget growth, driven largely by rises in health insurance costs, pension contributions, and liability insurance.

Strategic Staffing Adjustments: To offset costs, we have made strategic staff reductions in direct response to declining student enrollment. You will see cost reductions at several locations, including Plainfield High School (-1.47%) and Moosup Elementary (-1.82%). These adjustments include the reduction of four certified teaching positions at the high school, one certified position at the central school, and position reductions in grades 2 and 3 at the elementary level.

These necessary decisions allow us to align our staffing levels with current student populations while maintaining class sizes that support effective instruction.

I look forward to discussing these details further during our upcoming presentation on Wednesday, January 28th.

Paul M. Brenton

January 28th Public Presentation