By Vienna Zerbe
When YS music students heard the possibility that their music program could be facing possible cuts, there was a surge of protest. This then caused the truth of the program changes to be confused my many students. Acting Superintendent Larry Redding cleared up the rumors that have been circling the music program and its future.
Redding has been working with the YS community and the music department to create a more efficient teaching style. The music teachers, along with the YS administration, have been trying to fix an issue with traveling between buildings. YS teachers must go back and forth between the district buildings in order to keep up with their schedules and provide all grade levels with activities and music education.
Redding said, “The issues that were brought to me by the administrators were the concerns about how much travel time was involved and how much time really is not used in its best manner because the staff are trying to get back and forth across town to the different buildings for different assignments. The initial conversation really was trying to help alleviate some of those concerns that were shared to the building principals and the plan was about address those concerns.”
The primary concern of the music students and teachers had was regarding the livelihood of the program itself. It was rumored that the program would be cut altogether, or that a position was being eliminated. Redding clarified this was not the case. The administration plans to move forward with a schedule that will use the music teachers more efficiently.
There were also concerns of a possible furlough in the music department. While a furlough position had been in an early proposal, the administration does not plan to move forward with it.
As apart of the early proposal, there was the idea of scheduling music lessons for elementary students. The music lessons would have taken place before the start of the school day or afterwards. There was dispute over this due to the fact this is not convenient for many students.
This idea was also discarded. Redding said that music will still be in the same format that they are now and will take place whenever the music instructor is in the student’s building.
“The board ultimately has to decide whether a position is added or eliminated. They have not received a recommendation to eliminate a position. What we did discover was with six full time staff members, those duties, all of those duties, if they were arranged in a more efficient manner could be handled that way” said Redding.
At a meeting on February 27, it was proposed to have a seventh position. Redding added, “The seventh position was shown as a position that could be used to provide additional time for instrumental lessons, but there were no major teaching responsibilities incorporated into that seventh position.”
The goal of reorganizing the music program is to give teachers a more efficient schedule. Redding said, “The major benefit is, it’s going to provide them to practice their craft, and that is teaching music, in a more efficient manner and spend more time teaching and less time traveling.”
There is still a possibility of more changes to be made to the program to increase a more productive schedule. Next year’s schedule will have assignments for seven positions. The schedule for the music teachers will be finalized May 30 in preparation for the 2018-2019 school year.