Pembroke again made the news because of its contentious district meeting and huge cuts to its school budget. Pembroke is not an anti education town though it may have appeared so that day. Pembroke Academy had recently been named high school of the year. The robotics team has qualified for nationals, sports teams were in championships and two elementary teachers had been named teachers of the years in their respective categories. Usually a source of pride, these accomplishments did not even elicit applause because of the mood due to the potential tax increase.

Twenty seven positions are to be cut, including a very successful STEM type program and then there is still another $700,000 to be found. The problem is as often said is that NH does not adequately fund public education and the fed is not living up to its commitment to special education. It is Pembroke this year; but it could be any town next year. Pembroke schools will open and do the best they can for kids. Though it may not be as high of quality as now. It is time to hold our officials accountable . Perhaps our legislature could spend more time on insuring a quality public education that would be available to all students as opposed to concentrating so much time on making life more difficult for a small but very at risk LGBTQ population

Susanne Whitbeck

Pembroke