Music scheduling changes still a concern for students, teachers, and parents
NORWICH – Approximately 70 people were on hand for the Norwich City School District Board of Education’s annual re-organizational meeting Tuesday night.
Newly-elected board member Joseph McBride, Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan and incumbent board member Tom Morrone all took their oaths of office to start the meeting, as the school board made its official appointments in preparation for the 2011-2012 school year.
The board voted unanimously to re-elect Heather Fredenburg as president, while Dr. Linda Horovitz will take over vice presidential duties from Sally Chirlin. Rob Wightman and Wendy Wright were appointed to the positions of district clerk and treasurer, respectively, and the central business office at BOCES will handle the district’s internal claims auditing position.
The board then voted to approve approximately 50 other appointments, resolutions and designations, including meeting dates for the upcoming school year, the certification of certain payrolls, policies and committee appointments.
The regular meeting of the board followed, with a number of students, parents and teachers speaking out once again against proposed scheduling changes they believe will negatively impact the district’s music program.
Speaking on behalf of the music program, its students and its directors, Dan Ward said that – for many students – the music room at the high school is like a second home. Ask any band student where they feel the safest, he added, and that’s where they’ll point to.
“We are a family,” said Ward. “It’s a place to be yourself and a place where you can let your guard down.”
Several options have been presented to the music program’s staff, according to NHS Choral Director Mary Mayo – including an alternating schedule, where ensembles would meet every other day, and another that would find orchestra, choir and band all scheduled during the same block of time. The first would reduce instructional time by upwards of 50 percent for all students when compared with the current schedule, according to Mayo, while the second would mean students involved in multiple ensembles would miss nearly the same amount. Otherwise, students would have to choose one program over another.
According to Ward, neither choice is acceptable to students, teachers or colleges.
Soon-to-be senior Josh Mahannah said he simply wants to leave the high school’s music program better than when he first joined its ranks and hopes to pursue a music education in college. He added he is devastated by the fact that he’ll no longer be able to work with Orchestra Director Mark Sands, who he’s been studying under for the past eight years.
Under the new schedule, Sands will be located to the Perry Browne Elementary School full time. With the retirement of David Kirsch at Perry Browne and the departure of NHS music educator Lansing Dimon, Norwich Middle School music director Amy Rogers will take over both the middle school and high school programs.
One music position will be filled prior to the 2011-2012 school year, stated O’Sullivan, who said making up a $3 million budget gap is affecting the district across the board.
The next NCSD Board of Education meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15.
Newly-elected board member Joseph McBride, Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan and incumbent board member Tom Morrone all took their oaths of office to start the meeting, as the school board made its official appointments in preparation for the 2011-2012 school year.
The board voted unanimously to re-elect Heather Fredenburg as president, while Dr. Linda Horovitz will take over vice presidential duties from Sally Chirlin. Rob Wightman and Wendy Wright were appointed to the positions of district clerk and treasurer, respectively, and the central business office at BOCES will handle the district’s internal claims auditing position.
The board then voted to approve approximately 50 other appointments, resolutions and designations, including meeting dates for the upcoming school year, the certification of certain payrolls, policies and committee appointments.
The regular meeting of the board followed, with a number of students, parents and teachers speaking out once again against proposed scheduling changes they believe will negatively impact the district’s music program.
Speaking on behalf of the music program, its students and its directors, Dan Ward said that – for many students – the music room at the high school is like a second home. Ask any band student where they feel the safest, he added, and that’s where they’ll point to.
“We are a family,” said Ward. “It’s a place to be yourself and a place where you can let your guard down.”
Several options have been presented to the music program’s staff, according to NHS Choral Director Mary Mayo – including an alternating schedule, where ensembles would meet every other day, and another that would find orchestra, choir and band all scheduled during the same block of time. The first would reduce instructional time by upwards of 50 percent for all students when compared with the current schedule, according to Mayo, while the second would mean students involved in multiple ensembles would miss nearly the same amount. Otherwise, students would have to choose one program over another.
According to Ward, neither choice is acceptable to students, teachers or colleges.
Soon-to-be senior Josh Mahannah said he simply wants to leave the high school’s music program better than when he first joined its ranks and hopes to pursue a music education in college. He added he is devastated by the fact that he’ll no longer be able to work with Orchestra Director Mark Sands, who he’s been studying under for the past eight years.
Under the new schedule, Sands will be located to the Perry Browne Elementary School full time. With the retirement of David Kirsch at Perry Browne and the departure of NHS music educator Lansing Dimon, Norwich Middle School music director Amy Rogers will take over both the middle school and high school programs.
One music position will be filled prior to the 2011-2012 school year, stated O’Sullivan, who said making up a $3 million budget gap is affecting the district across the board.
The next NCSD Board of Education meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 15.
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