Pembroke School Committee Approves Middle-Level Waivers for Sports Teams
Eighth graders to join JV teams for boys lacrosse and softball; committee hears budget requests for new programs and staff positions
PEMBROKE - March 18 - The Pembroke School Committee unanimously approves middle-level waivers for boys lacrosse and softball, allowing eighth graders to participate on junior varsity teams for the upcoming season.
The decision comes as both programs face challenges with roster numbers. Superintendent Erin Obey explains that the softball program has utilized the eighth-grade waiver for several years, while boys lacrosse hasn't requested one since spring 2023.
"For boys lacrosse, we need somewhere in the low 20s in order to really field a varsity and JV team. We currently have 15 students registered," Obey says. "With 15 students, we would still run it. But what happens is we end up not having enough sometimes to play, and we have to cancel."
The committee briefly discusses safety concerns regarding lacrosse, which involves more contact than some other sports. Obey addresses these concerns by noting that eighth graders can only play at the JV level, where seniors do not participate.
"It is capped at 11th grade, so the age span of kids is still only three years, not the full four," Obey explains. "We didn't have any issues in 2023 when we had the waiver. We have a really strong youth lacrosse program here in Pembroke, so the kids that are playing have been playing for several years and are aware of the safety."
The committee also hears extensive budget presentations from Marybeth Brust, Assistant Superintendent, and Jess DeLorenzo, Director of Student Services, outlining their departments' accomplishments and funding requests for the upcoming fiscal year.
Brust highlights several achievements, including the expansion of pathways to include global citizenship, music, and information technology. The district also adds AP Spanish Literature and AP World History this year, with 47 percent of seniors scoring a three or higher on an AP exam.
"We were awarded the College Board AP Silver Medal," Brust notes. "Last year we had a bronze medal. This year we had a silver medal, and we're pushing hard for gold."
For the upcoming year, Brust requests a .4 business teacher position, which would allow the Pathways Coordinator to focus full-time on placing students in internships and working with business partners.
"Next year we'll have double the amount of seniors looking for placements," Brust explains. "It is a very lengthy process, and if you do it safely and you do it well, it requires a tremendous amount of time and thought."
Brust also advocates for introducing world language instruction at the elementary level, acknowledging the fiscal challenges but emphasizing its importance for 21st-century education.
DeLorenzo presents several requests for the Student Services department, including the creation of a social-emotional, substantially separate special education classroom at the elementary level, with an estimated cost of $207,500.
Committee members express strong support for this initiative, with Chair Patrick Chilcott suggesting they explore additional funding sources.
"I think there's a lot of value in this, especially if we can keep kids in their local school," Chilcott says. "I wonder if there's a way to help us launch this, if that's another request we can make to our representatives."
Committee member Susan Bollinger adds, "What an amazing thing it would be to have something right here in Pembroke for the Pembroke families. I think that would be a huge thing for people."
DeLorenzo also requests a .3 full-time out-of-district coordinator to alleviate responsibilities from the secondary special education coordinator, a full-time special education teacher at the high school to support co-teaching in math and science, and a full-time coordinator of behavioral health wellness and counseling.
Additionally, she proposes an intervention model that includes one full-time Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and three Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) to address behavioral challenges across the district.
"A BCBA would come to our instructional support team. They'd hear the concern. We'd talk about an intervention," DeLorenzo explains. "An RBT would go directly into a classroom working with a student for a chunk of time... with the goal to be able to peel back as they've taught the staff and help the student reduce disruptive behaviors."
Committee member Katrina Delaney emphasizes the potential impact of these positions: "Speaking as a former teacher, I think that can really transform a classroom. If there's one student who's really struggling, it can throw things off. Not that that's their fault, but we need to get them the support that they need."
Other significant items from the meeting include:
* The committee welcomes Eagle Scout candidate James Connor, who presents his STEM outreach program project at the Pembroke Community Center
* Superintendent Obey announces the Community Preservation Committee has approved $500,000 for replacement of the Hobomock playground
* The committee schedules budget meetings for March 25, April 1, April 8, and April 15, with a public budget hearing planned for May 6
Chilcott acknowledges that while not all budget requests can be funded, the process helps establish priorities and reflects the evolving demands on schools.
"Teaching in 2025 and the demands on a school in 2025 are remarkably different, even than what they were in 2020," Chilcott says. "We are super fortunate to have teachers that are out there every day in this district that are trying to do the best for all of our kids."