Pembroke School Committee approves package of fee increases and several budget measures

The Pembroke School Committee on April 1 approved a set of fee increases for the 2025-26 school year and voted on several other routine items tied to the district's fiscal 2026 budget proposal.

The committee approved higher transportation, athletics, co-curricular, parking and preschool fees after discussions about equity, hardship waivers and the cumulative cost to families. Committee members and administrators described the fee increases as part of a broader effort to close a roughly $1.4 million operating gap in the school's initial spending plan and to bring Pembroke's fees closer to those charged in neighboring communities.

Why it matters: The new rates will affect families who pay bus, sports, club and preschool costs and will add revenue the district plans to use to preserve program investments and staffing in the FY26 administrative recommended budget.

Most significant changes approved

- Transportation: The committee approved raising the secondary transportation fee to $300 per student and a $500 family cap. Administrators said the change would generate about $28,465 annually and that families qualifying for SNAP or similar benefits still receive free transportation; the district will continue to offer payment plans and hardship waivers.

- Athletics: The committee approved raising the high-school athletics fee to $300 per athlete and a family cap of $550; it also approved a revised premium fee for football and hockey, raised to $150 per sport (paid in addition to the family cap) to reflect higher ice-time and equipment costs. Administrators estimated the athletics changes would generate roughly $24,000.

- Co-curricular clubs: The committee approved keeping the first activity free and raising the per-additional-activity charge to $50 with a $100 family cap. The district noted hardship waivers remain available.

- Parking: The committee approved increasing the student parking permit from $50 to $75 per year.

- Preschool tuition: The committee approved new preschool tuition levels: the five-day full-day program will increase to $6,500 per year and the four-day half-day integrated preschool peer fee will increase to $2,700.

- Facility rentals: No change was approved to the facility usage fee structure; administrators said most local youth and nonprofit groups continue to receive reduced or no-cost classifications.

Discussion and concerns

Committee members pushed for clearer public notice about changes, asked for an overall family cap across all fees in future years, and emphasized that hardship waivers and payment plans will remain available. Some members said the increases are large for one year and advocated for smaller, incremental increases; others said fees remain in line with comparable towns and are needed to restore investments in programming.

Votes at a glance (motions taken during the meeting)

- Approve distribution and signature of a letter to the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education opposing a proposal to replace vocational school admissions criteria with a lottery system. Motion: accept letter as presented and approve signing and distribution. Mover: Katrina Delaney; Second: David (School Committee member). Outcome: approved (unanimous as recorded).

- Approve PHS overnight out-of-state field trip to Ireland in 2026 on a conceptual basis to allow an interest meeting to proceed. Motion: accept on a conceptual basis. Mover: Allison (School Committee member); Second: Katrina Delaney. Outcome: approved (unanimous as recorded).

- Approve transportation fee schedule: $300 per individual and $500 family cap (as presented). Motion: approve transportation fee schedule as presented. Mover: Katrina Delaney; Second: David (School Committee member). Outcome: approved (carried by the committee; one member voiced objection and there was an abstention, as recorded during the roll call).

- Approve athletics fees: $300 individual, $550 family cap, and premium fee for football and hockey raised to $150. Motion: approve athletics fees as amended. Mover: Katrina Delaney; Second: Allison (School Committee member). Outcome: approved (unanimous as recorded).

- Approve co-curricular fees: first activity free, $50 for each additional activity, $100 family cap. Motion: approve co-curricular fee schedule as presented. Mover: Katrina Delaney; Second: David (School Committee member). Outcome: approved (vote recorded: 3 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstention as announced at the meeting).

- Approve change to parking fee: increase from $50 to $75. Motion: change parking fee to $75. Mover: David (School Committee member); Second: Katrina Delaney. Outcome: approved (carried as recorded).

- Approve preschool tuition changes: five-day full-day to $6,500 and four-day half-day to $2,700 (sibling discount remains for the half-day program; no sibling discount for the full-day program). Motion: accept and approve preschool fees as presented. Mover: David (School Committee member); Second: Katrina Delaney. Outcome: approved (unanimous as recorded).

- Facility usage fees: no changes recommended. Motion to keep current facility usage fee structure: no increase recommended.

Administrative notes and safeguards

Administrators repeatedly said hardship waivers, payment plans and automatic qualifying mechanisms (for example, participation in SNAP) will continue for families that cannot pay. The district noted early-payment discounts exist and that online credit-card fee costs are currently absorbed by the district.

Next steps

Administrators will update fee revenue estimates to reflect the motions adopted during the meeting and publish the final fee schedule on the district website ahead of the fall payment cycle. The FY26 budget timeline continues toward the joint budget meeting with the select board and advisory committee on April 15 and a potential public hearing in late April or early May.