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The Johnstown School District
Music Department has continued a long history of
excellence in music education.
The American Music Conference (AMC)
has honored the Greater Johnstown School District (GJSD)
for their commitment to music education by naming them one of the
"Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America" for the past
seven years.
This
honor is in jeopardy!
At the recommendation of the
Superintendent, the GJSD Board of Education will reduce the
JHS Vocal music program to a .5 position (meaning 4 periods
of instruction per day) at their meeting on May 21, 2009.
The GJSD Administration and Board of Education
has consistently said over the past several months they are
maintaining and ARE
NOT CUTTING PROGRAM for the coming school year.
This is
obviously not true!
The 50% reduction in the JHS Vocal Music program
will be voted on TWO
DAYS AFTER the 2009-2010 GJSD Public Budget vote and
School Board Elections.
How deceiving!
-The likely high turnover of part-time
vocal music teachers will result in a lack of consistency
and an eventual loss of student interest and involvement in
the program.
-the elimination of lunch-time or after school help or
rehearsals for students interested in (and therefore
participation in) All County Festivals, All-State Choirs,
NYSSMA Solo Festival, scholarship competitions, school and
community talent shows, school and community theater
auditions, college auditions, etc., etc., etc.
- A reduction in the use of the new multi-million dollar
Johnstown High School Performing Arts Center. Our tax
dollars paid for this & we want our Performing Arts programs
to use the facility.
-The loss of valuable personal student/teacher contact.
-The likely loss of Jim Morton, a long-time Johnstown
resident and GJSD teacher, and advisor and director of
multiple JHS music and theater activities.
What can we do to make the Administration and Board of
Education realize the impact of this decision on our
students…?
-Call or write a letter to GJSD Administrators highlighting
some of these facts.
-Call a Board of Ed. member and explain the importance of
the vocal lesson program…that it is not “fluff”.
-Write a letter to the editor and let the community know
what is happening “behind their backs”.
The Greater Johnstown School District
Music Department fields a number of groups which compete locally, nationally,
and internationally. The "flagship group" is the "Marching Sir Bills",
Johnstown's Marching Band which competes in the New York State Field Band
Conference (NYSFBC). Competitive winter
colorguard or "Winterguard", is divided up into Varsity level; "Amythest Gold",
JV level; "Amythest", and since 2005, the new junior level Winterguard; "Golddust". Click on any of the links
to the left to get more information on any of these groups, and to see pictures
and performances.
Bookmark JohnstownMusicWeb.com
Please feel free to send
pictures of anything Band or Winterguard related
to:
mcurley1@nycap.rr.com.
We will select a few of the best and include them throughout the website.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Mark Curley
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