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Pembroke committee says no planned cuts to music programs, will investigate student letter on falling marching-band enrollment
Summary
A student letter raised concerns about declining marching-band enrollment at Pembroke High School; the committee denied any current plan to cut music offerings, cited a sharp drop in overall high-school enrollment since 2014, and agreed to add a policy subcommittee review and a full discussion on the November agenda.
Chair opened the meeting by telling residents the FY26 budget discussions will begin in late November and early December and directly addressed a flurry of community letters about the music program. “There is I don't think anyone in this room … We are all very, very proud of this program,” the Chair said, adding: “I can tell you that nothing has been discussed about cutting anything with the music program.”
Katrina, who brought the student letter to the committee's attention, summarized the note as an appeal that marching-band enrollment has declined steadily and asked the committee to investigate whether the district’s 'pathways' program is diverting students from band, chorus and orchestra. The student who wrote the letter was present and was thanked by the Chair for raising the issue.
The district’s administrative speaker provided historical enrollment context, saying Pembroke High School’s enrollment was about 1,080 in 2014 and is now about 680, which committee members said can reduce participation across many electives. “There is a decline in enrollment, which means there's fewer kids filling seats in all kinds of courses,” the administrator said.
Committee members agreed the matter warrants more study rather than an immediate policy change. The Chair proposed, and the committee accepted, adding a focused discussion and a pathways update to the November meeting calendar to ensure each point raised by the student is addressed. Members also confirmed the student’s letter is a public record and that copies may be made available on request.
Next steps: the administration and the policy subcommittee will assemble enrollment data, review how the pathways program is presented to eighth graders, and bring recommendations and data to the committee at a November meeting so the full board can consider whether program or presentation changes are needed.
