Pembroke School Committee Approves Contracts, Cuts Library Paraprofessionals

New wage increases funded by eliminating three positions

PEMBROKE, MA - July 16 - The Pembroke School Committee approved new one-year contracts for custodial, paraprofessional and food service staff on Monday night, but the wage increases will come at the cost of eliminating three library paraprofessional positions across the district.

The contracts provide hourly raises of $1.25 for custodial staff (Unit C), $1.25-$1.35 for paraprofessionals (Unit D), and $1.75 for food service workers (Unit E). However, to fund the approximately $70,000 cost of the Unit D contract above what was budgeted, the district will cut three of its four elementary library paraprofessional positions.

"We do need to reduce the library paras because there is four and there is a contractual obligation...to notice staff ahead of June 15th," said Superintendent Erin Obey. She noted one library para position will be retained to provide trimester library instruction at the elementary schools.

The decision sparked debate among committee members about budget priorities and the process for approving the contracts. Committee member Allison Glennon voiced concerns about the lack of public input, stating "I feel like I don't know if the public has had enough time. You know, this is the first time this is presented publicly."

Committee Chair Patrick Chilcott defended the difficult decision, saying "Reducing roles and reducing positions is the last place we want to go, but it is always about protecting the classroom."

Obey explained the contracts are for one year to align bargaining cycles across all units. She noted the district is already "lean" administratively, at only 42% of market rate for some positions.

Some committee members expressed frustration about the timing and process for approving the contracts after the budget cycle. "I think it needs to be done differently so that we can be more prepared for next year," said member Sue Bollinger.

The contracts were ultimately approved unanimously in separate votes. However, the debate highlighted ongoing challenges with school funding and difficult tradeoffs facing the district.

Obey said elementary students will still receive daily specials instruction in art, music or PE, with library becoming a trimester option. She noted curriculum from the eliminated library para positions will be incorporated in other ways.

"We took a look at some of the coding that happens in fifth and sixth grade and talked about how some of that can be delivered by our digital learning specialists within the classroom," Obey said. "There's absolutely a ton of creative minds looking at this and making sure that all of the skills are still available to our students."

The debate comes as the district faces uncertainty about future funding and enrollment trends. Obey noted there will likely be "a quite difficult budget cycle as we go into fiscal year 26 and beyond."

The committee also approved transferring $115,545 in unspent funds from the past fiscal year into a special education stabilization account to help weather future budget challenges. That account will now have a balance of over $555,000.

In other business, the committee approved a 2.5% raise for administrators, though Obey noted the district remains well below market rate for those positions. The committee also gave conceptual approval for a World Language Department trip to Quebec in May 2025.