CLEARFIELD – More than 50 school district parents, students and concerned residents attended last night’s Clearfield school board meeting to show support for the music programs.
Before the board opened the floor to public comment, Superintendent Terry Struble addressed the matter to “lay some things to rest.”
He said the staff had been addressed earlier concerning scheduling and the possibility of needing to eliminate a music position at the Clearfield Area Junior-Senior High School due to lack of interest by the students.
The lack of interest, he said, was determined by the number of students who had not signed up for music classes at that point.
Since then, more students have signed up to participate in music classes, and currently there are no plans to change music staffing at the school.
However, Struble noted a need to look at the long-term for all programs at the school. He reminded the public that one of the reasons the district moved all students to two buildings was due to population decrease.
“There is a shrinking student base,” he said. When there are fewer students, he added, it makes it harder to continue doing what you used to do.
Struble thanked those present and said it is the grassroots organization that needs to encourage their friends, neighbors and family to get involved in the music programs and keep them going.
Struble also noted that the students now showing interest in music at Clearfield Area Elementary School need to be encouraged to continue into junior high and senior high.
He added that fortunately there are not changes in staff at the elementary and junior-senior high levels, and the board will be working on setting goals for the future.
After this announcement a few members of the audience addressed the board.
Jeannie Jacobs, a resident of Clearfield Borough, read a prepared statement, noting that the Bison Music Alumni Association has members from graduating years 1931 to 2015.
She thanked the board for maintaining the music program for the past two years and agreed that programs are only a success as long as students show interest.
She added a hope that music education will be included for grades 4-6 and also thanked the board for recognizing the strengths, talent and impact of the teachers.
Additionally, Jacobs encouraged everyone to attend a performance of the elementary, junior high and senior high students. “It is time well spent,” she said.
Tamera Baughman, of Clearfield Borough, also thanked the board and shared a personal story about the music program.
She said her son started learning cello and percussion and music has helped his ADHD. In 2013 he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and also a vascular disease. In 2014 he had surgery for the vascular disease and that resulted in a long recovery period where music played an integral part. Music, she said, made the many challenges and changes in his life bearable and has also helped him in Boy Scouts.
“There are hundreds of Joshuas out there and they all deserve to shine,” she concluded.
Two students also spoke. Sandra Knepp of Mineral Springs stated that the music program has a big impact on students and provides a foundation of who the students are and who they become.
Ben Fye of Woodland noted how music students do better on SATs and standardized tests and music stimulates the brain the same way math and science problems do.
He added that one reason students may have held off in signing up for music programs was due to changes in graduation requirements, leaving little room for electives until the students were able to work out their schedules.
The school board will be voting on several matters for the education and personnel committee and the buildings, finance and activities committee at next week’s voting meeting.
These will include appointments of coaches, hiring a new math teacher, extending the school year for the summer for two teachers and two substitutes, leaves, transfers, resignations, increases in hours, petty cash officers and appointments of treasurer.
The board will also consider the homestead and farmstead exclusion resolution, the fund balance and tax resolution.
Struble added there are five items that will also be discussed and voted on next week: Esco-Choices, the CMCFST agreement (regarding cafeteria workers), the final budget approval, leasing Centre Elementary School and Source4Teachers addendum.