Choir director: music curriculum suffering
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POLSON — Chris Bumgarner, Polson High School choir teacher, spoke to trustees about the music curriculum at the May 14 school board.
“Over the last three years, music staff has been shuffled around, and decisions are made according to what’s best for budgets and convenience and not based on curriculum and continuity for music education,” he said.
The first step to improvement is to have responsible communication between administration and staff, Bumgarner said.
To fill the gaps, he said the best option would be to hire a certified music teacher for the K-1 and fifth and sixth grade general music classes. The sixth grade general music class was cut last semester so fifth grade music could be added back.
He added that this is the third year in a row “that the music schedule will have changed without consultation or communication with involved teachers.”
Bumgarner asked the board to “communicate well and include all administration, staff and parents in creating the vision for our schools.”
No action was taken, since Bumgarner was not on the agenda.
Gale Decker, Lake County Superintendent of Schools, swore in newly elected trustees Caryl Cox, incumbent, John Kelly, Michael Leadercharge and Andrew Learn, from the Dayton/Valley View high school district. Then the board began the meeting by electing officers.
Caryl Cox was re-elected chair of the board, and John Laimbeer will again serve as vice chair. Pam Owen was re-appointed as clerk.
Due to big kindergarten and first-grade classes, the board voted to hire two elementary teachers, one kindergarten and one first grade. They also opened one and a half special education positions.
“We may need to become more flexible at some point,” Trustee Nancy Lindsey said.
Roof repair began on the PHS roof on May 15 after the board approved the repair of two sections of the roof by Progressive Roofing.
Two Kalispell architects have shown interest and will be visiting PHS on May 18 to inspect the building to see what, if any, work needs to be done. Then specifications can be developed and the job can be put out to bid.
The next board meeting will be held on June 11 in the district office conference room.
