2000-01-12 School Committee Minutes

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REGULAR SESSION -2- JANUARY 12 2000 Mr. Mulligan for the school year, but his position is indeed temporary. In the current budget process there were seven teachers requested at the high school. The high school will add only one teacher. There is only $ 210,000 slotted for Curriculum Initiatives. Mrs. D'Antona thanked Dr. Harutunian and invited the Band Parent Representatives to speak. Mrs. Janice Jones applauded Dr. Harutunian for his support when Mr. Bunten became ill. One of the problems, she felt, was that Mr. Bunten was doing the work of three people. He was working all day teaching and then until 9:00 p.m. every night doing rehearsals and sectionals. He works with the marching band, the concert band and the jazz band. He works Saturdays and Sundays during the Fall. She said to expect one man to do all this is ridiculous. You cannot expect Mr. Bunten to work from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. everyday. Mrs. Jones stated that the Band Parents just want their share of the pie. There are 119 children involved in the band. There are no cuts or no tryouts for the band. Please treat these students like the athletes. Andrew Pearson, a senior at Reading Memorial High School, stated that he was a member of the Jazz Band, Combo and Marching Band. He sees the stress Mr. Bunten is under. If Mr. Mulligan dos not come back next year, Mr. Bunten will not be able to handle everything. Mrs. Debbie Ahl has a daughter in the Middle School Band. She wants her daughter to have something to aspire to by the time she reaches the high school. There would be no where to go after Middle School. Mr. Mulligan gives 200 %. We cannot afford to loose him. Michael Jones, a senior at the high school, stated that he never really got involved at school. He hung around the band and Mr. Bunten strongly recommended that he get involved with the band. He joined the drum line two years ago. He will always remember the past two years. They have been the best two years of his life. He felt like he finally belonged somewhere. Mr. Bunten and Mr. Mulligan were there for him. Danny K. said he was called in to run the Pops Concert. He said it took thirteen people to fill in for Mr. Bunten. He said there were 5 people teaching Music on the middle school level and one at the high school. This did not make sense to him. He wanted the committee to find money for an assistant for Mr. Bunten. Dr. Harutunian took exception to the criticism of the middle school music staff. The middle school music staff services many more music students than the high school thus the increase in staff.