Plum set to begin 2024-25 school year with larger senior, junior classes

Plum’s Class of 2025 is one of two large “bubbles” making its way through the school district.

The senior class for the 2024-25 school year numbers 316 students, assistant Superintendent Ashley Boyers said. The junior class behind them is even larger, at 325.

Typical class sizes for the district are in the range of 270 to 300, Boyers said.

Plum will have about 3,500 students when the new school year starts on Aug. 21. Graduation is scheduled for May 28 and, according to the district’s calendar, any changes to that date will be announced by April 1. The last day for kindergarten is May 28, with the last day of school for all other grades being May 30.

Beginning this school year, the district replaced its traditional open houses, held in late September or early October, with new “Meet the Teacher” events before the start of classes.

Boyers said it will allow students and parents to walk trough their schools and learn who their teachers are before the first day of school.

They were scheduled to be held Aug. 14 at the high school and middle school, and on Aug. 15 at Holiday Park Intermediate and O’Block and Pivik elementaries.

Beginning this school year, teachers and staff will be equipped with a new alert system intended to reduce response time in an emergency. Plum will be the first school district in the state to use the Centegix CrisisAlert system, which when activated marks the employee’s location and either summons help from within the school or, in a serious incident, summons local police.

The district has launched a newly designed website at the same address, pbsd.net, which officials say offers a new search section making it easier to find information. The district also has posted course syllabi for all grades.

A “digital backpack,” containing information for families, is available on the district’s website.

The district will be working with a variety of community members on developing a “Portrait of Graduate” that will outline what a Plum student should know and be able to do when they graduate from the district. A committee will include teachers, students, parents and business owners, Boyers said.

Students should not expect to be riding any of the district’s new electric buses. While the district received a $5 million grant that could pay for about 13 buses and charging stations, Boyers said they are not expected to be in use during the 2024-25 school year.