April 25, 2011
From Ingham County Community News
Mason Middle School band parents and members jammed the April 19 school board meeting to make their case for retaining a full-time band director.
Mason Public Schools (MPS) staff is working on crafting a 2011-12 budget in the face of Gov. Rick Snyder's proposal of a cut of $470 per pupil in state aid.
However, per-pupil school aid would drop by $340 instead of $470 under Senate revisions made last week to Gov. Snyder's 2012 budget proposal.
Mark Dillingham, superintendent at MPS, said in an April 20 email it appears the district, going on earlier projections, was facing a deficit of $2.4 million.
Other proposed or potential cuts, Dillingham said, could include administration, teachers, social work time, counselor time, secretarial, athletics, librarian, student clubs, intramurals, custodial, maintenance, community education and summer school. Consolidation of the elementary library and compter lab aides is another possibility.
Although nothing is set yet, one possibility that has middle school band people worried is the proposed reduction of its band director position from full to part time.
Amber McRay is the Mason Middle School band director.
Beth Bousfield is band director for the high and middle schools.
Bousfieldaddressed the board of education on Tuesday, acknowledging the board is facing an "awful and unprecedented financial situation."
"If the sun shines a little brighter on our finances, on a reinstatement list, I ask that position be added to that list," Bousfield said of McRay's position.
McRay did not speak at the meeting.
What could happen
Bousfield listed existing programs taught by two full-time teachers and what would be available if one position were reduced to a half-time position.
She said that with 1 1/2 positions, there would be no team-taught classes or a high school winter concert.
Solo and ensemble efforts, according to Bousfield, would be offered at the high school only. There also would be no jazz band at either level and no middle school band trips.
Sandra Smucker, a parent of a seventh-grade jazz band member, said her daughter was asked to be in that band, and now plays piano.
"My feeling about music is it's a positive, progressive thing for children," Smucker said.
Music also has helped her daughter in math, she noted.
Smucker said she knows cuts have to be made, but said it would be important to keep as much of the music program as possible.
"Kids love the teachers," Smucker said, "and they're very dedicated."
Bill Schneider, another band parent, endorsed Bousfield and McRay, calling them "extraordinary teachers" and saying he considers music a "core academic" activity.
School board President Ralph Beebe stressed that to final decisions have been made, and a budget forum will take place in May.
School budgets in the state have to be in place by July 1.
"Do remember that the word is 'proposal' at this point," Beebe said.
Dillingham has posted a letter to the community on the MPS Web site, mason.k12.mi.us, that states retirement costs are expected to continue to increase in 2011-12. The district is projecting a 3.8 percent increase in the retirement rate at a cost of about $500,000.
Dillingham also wrote that the district is projected to lose 65 students in the fall.
"We have a major task ahead of us," Dillingham said in the letter, "and we're going to have to work together for our children's sake in order to weather this major storm."
NEW BOARD MEMBERS ELECTED: Beebe was elected school board president at the meeting, succeeding the retiring Barb Hensinger.
Other officers are: Becky Brimley, vice president; Laura Fenger, secretary; and Julie Rogers, treasurer.
Laura Cheney was administered the oath of office as a new board member.
STANLEY RETIRING: Mike Prelesnik, assistant principal at Mason Middle School, will be the new principal at North Aurelius Elementary next school year.
Prelesnik succeeds Gina Stanley, who is retiring after 34 years of service at North Aurelius and Alaiedon elementary schools.
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