Students object to district’s downsizing of music teacher

Students pleaded with the Newton Community School District Monday night to reverse its decision to downsize one teaching position in the music department, which they said would affect many of their peers in both Newton High School and Berg Middle School.

For several students in attendance, this was their first visit to a NCSD Board of Education meeting. Two weeks prior, the school board was presented a certified personnel update that included a single reduction in force action effective June 30, presumably due to budget restraints. Chas Beeler’s position as assistant director of bands was the target of the reduction.

Robyn Friedman, NCSD school board president, reminded students they had approximately three minutes each to speak at the podium. The school board, she added, is “not allowed to speak back” to the students regarding their complaints, a detail the students later said was disappointing. However, Friedman did commend the students for utilizing their right to use the public forum in this capacity.

Four students volunteered to speak with the school board; and just as many students were in attendance to support Beeler, who was not present at the meeting. The students described an instructor who would connect with them on a personal level and develop their skills as musicians, someone who was not afraid to push them to their full potential.

Rhiannon Tratchel, a Newton High School freshman, told the board some students were brought to tears when they were told Beeler might not be around for marching band practice. Most students involved in band or choir, she claimed, “don’t want him to leave” the district.

“We don’t really want to see him go because so many of us have gotten to know him,” she said. “He’s just kind of like family.”

Prior to the meeting, Newton High School senior Tiffany Morris rallied behind Beeler and sought out support from her fellow band and choir peers. A mass email sent by Morris detailed her arguments toward maintaining Beeler’s teaching position, which she deemed as necessary to the schools’ music programs.

Citing a past district decision to remove the orchestral program, Morris told the Newton Daily News any further cuts to the music department and “there won’t be a band program left.” Beeler, she added, devotes 42.5 hours to student interaction each week between two schools, a value that increases to 45.5 per week during marching band season. Morris also said Beeler conducts close to 100 lessons in a six-day span.

“The assistant director position is super important, and I see more of it than most students and the staff do because I go back and forth between the Newton High School and Berg Middle School to also help teach lessons and instruct classes through the DMACC classes I’m doing,” Morris said before the school board meeting took place.“It seems like when it comes to cuts, the musical program seems to come first.”

Removing Beeler’s position, she claimed, would adversely affect 20 percent of students in grades 5-12. According to her emailed statement, the change would also “heavily impact five ensembles” within the school district: NHS Cardinal Regiment, NHS Jazz Lab, Berg Wind Ensemble, Berg All Star Band and Berg Jazz Band.

After the meeting, NCSD Superintendent Bob Callaghan spoke briefly with Morris, Rhiannon Tratchel and Aislinn Tratchel about their concerns, specifically regarding their claims of underfunding in the music programs. Callaghan recommended Morris set up a meeting with NCSD Activities Director Ryan Rump to take a look at the activities budget for better clarity.

The superintendent also explained a large majority of the district’s budget goes to its faculty and staff. The remaining funds are dispersed to building utilities and other needs and classroom improvement items, as well as other areas. Callaghan said, after expenses, there is very little money left, particularly when budgets are already tight.

Still, Morris and many of her classmates and band enthusiasts said they will be keeping a close eye on the next school board agenda in hopes they might be able to maintain Beeler’s position.

Beeler was stunned by the students’ efforts. He told the Newton Daily News after the school board meeting the music department has a “great group of kids.”

He said, “I’m completely shocked (and) humbled that they even did that. I really don’t even know what to say about it. Obviously, the board has some tough choices that they have to make all the time, especially with how things are with funding and the like.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com