Balanced $41.8M Pembroke School Budget Focuses on Kindergarten Support and Special Education

PEMBROKE - April 28, 2026 - Superintendent Erin Obey presented a balanced $41,849,729 administrative recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2027, marking a $1.4 million increase over the current year. The proposal prioritizes the restoration of kindergarten paraprofessionals, expanded special education staffing, and a strategic pivot away from one-to-one device reliance in lower grade levels, all while maintaining one of the lowest per-pupil spending rates in the region.

The Full Story

During a joint session with the Select Board and Advisory Committee, Superintendent Erin Obey detailed the “Maintenance of Effort” (MOE) budget, which aims to sustain current services at next year’s prices. The FY27 request represents a 3.4% increase, driven largely by collective bargaining obligations and rising transportation costs [15:03]. Despite these pressures, the budget is currently balanced thanks to a $644,654 increase in town operating funds and a conservative estimate of $75 per student in Chapter 70 state aid [17:10], [17:36].