Six Restored Staff Positions Follow $452,000 Budget Infusion as Writing Scores Slump
Key Points
- $452,000 in supplemental town funding unfreezes library, math intervention, and special education positions
- Grade 10 MCAS scores dip below state averages as writing becomes a primary district-wide focus
- Split 3-2 votes favor ending school BMI screenings and supporting transgender sanctuary laws
- Committee rejects MASC resolution to limit state receivership duration to three years
- Strategic plan survey closes with nearly 1,200 community responses
Pembroke schools will see an immediate boost in staffing following a $452,000 funding increase approved at the recent Town Meeting, allowing the district to unfreeze several positions that had been sidelined by budget constraints. Superintendent Erin Obey informed the School Committee on Thursday that the supplemental funds provide enough flexibility to restore clerical paralegals for special education, a math interventionist, and a behavioral program at Hobomock Elementary. High school students will also see the return of a librarian and an expanded business program starting in January. While the district received the full $452,000, Obey noted that the unfreezing is being handled strategically to ensure room for upcoming collective bargaining settlements. Member Susan Bollinger questioned the total expenditure, asking, What is the cost of this? Are we spending the whole $452,000?
Obey clarified that while the positions were already in the FY26 plan, the new town funds provide the necessary cushion to fill them now. Motion Made by A. Glennon to approve the unfreezing of recommended positions Passed 5-0.
The staffing news arrived alongside a sobering annual achievement report that revealed a significant decline in Grade 10 MCAS scores. District administrator Mary Beth reported that tenth-grade students are currently performing just below state averages in English Language Arts and Math, a trend she partially attributed to a recent state policy shift. Our older test-takers, our sophomores last year, were acutely aware of the fact that the MCAS no longer serves as a competency determination for graduation,
she explained, noting that students may not have felt the same pressure to perform. The data highlighted a specific struggle with writing and essays across all levels. To combat this, the district is piloting a new curriculum and increasing on-demand writing exercises to mitigate the impact of AI tools. Bollinger inquired if the curriculum had remained stagnant, but Mary Beth noted that elementary gains from the UFLI
program are already appearing in younger grades. Despite the MCAS slump, the district’s AP performance remains a bright spot, with 80% of test-takers scoring a 3 or better. Vice Chair Allison Glennon asked for a breakdown between accelerated and grade-level classes, leading Mary Beth to observe that the number one concern is writing across the board,
even among accelerated students.
The committee also engaged in a series of divided votes regarding resolutions for the upcoming Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) conference. A proposal to remove Body Mass Index (BMI) testing from schools sparked a debate over the district's role in student health. When we think about students with eating disorders, we can leave that up to their doctors and not the school,
said Member Katrina Delaney. Chair David Boyle disagreed, stating, If we're here to educate the spirit, mind, and body, this is part of the body.
Motion Made by K. Delaney to support the removal of BMI testing Passed 3-2 (Yes: K. Delaney, A. Glennon, K. Scarsciotti; No: D. Boyle, S. Bollinger). Similar ideological lines were drawn over a resolution regarding sanctuary laws for transgender students, which Bollinger argued was bringing in a political issue that won't weigh one way or the other on how we educate a child.
Motion Made by K. Delaney to support sanctuary laws for transgender students Passed 3-2 (Yes: K. Delaney, A. Glennon, K. Scarsciotti; No: D. Boyle, S. Bollinger).
The committee showed more unity on fiscal matters, supporting resolutions to raise the special education reserve cap from 2% to 5% and to create a regional school assessment reserve fund. However, they stood firm against state overreach
regarding receivership, voting unanimously to oppose a resolution that would limit state takeovers of failing districts to three years. Obey noted that in her experience, it takes five years to effectively make change.
Motion Made by D. Boyle to not support the state takeover limitation resolution Passed 5-0. On the topic of state governance, Glennon voiced support for allowing educators to sit on the state board, noting that the teaching profession is the only one in Massachusetts where license holders are prohibited from serving on the governing board.
However, the board ultimately voted against supporting that resolution due to concerns about union conflicts of interest. Motion Made by D. Boyle to not support the educator board representation resolution Passed 3-0-2 (No: D. Boyle, S. Bollinger, A. Glennon; Abstain: K. Delaney, K. Scarsciotti).
In other district news, the committee approved a waiver to allow eighth-grade students to join the high school girls' ice hockey team to ensure a full roster for the upcoming season. Motion Made by A. Glennon to approve the MIAA 8th grade waiver Passed 5-0. Additionally, the district's five-year strategic planning process is nearing a major milestone, with nearly 1,200 community members responding to a recent survey. Residents are also invited to the Hobomock playground ribbon cutting on November 14th at 9:30 a.m., and Glennon reminded the community that the high school production of Seussical
is scheduled for early December, featuring a mix of high schoolers and elementary students.