The retirement of two district music instructors provided an opportunity for the district to examine existing offerings and make adjustments to better serve students.
The district will replace the elementary music teacher. A band teacher who worked half time at OHS and half time at Evans will move to Evans Middle School full-time to provide instruction. The move is the result of low student participation numbers at OHS but does not reduce high school band opportunities. The schedule still provides the same number of lesson hours and band courses offered the past several years.
Reassigning a teacher to Evans will allow the district to expand offerings at the middle school for sixth grade. It also supports growing programs in the younger grades to grow fine arts participation at the high school level. According to Kooiker, it is easier to add than to take away. Her goal is to increase participation in all programs.
Kooiker's plan is outlined on a band fact sheet, attached.
