Arts & Entertainment

High School Music Program in Limbo: Teacher Stuck at Part-Time

Students and parents want the program's teacher and band director, Scott Winship, to stay but it remains to be seen if administrators can assemble a package to increase his position enough beyond 40 percent of fulltime to keep him here.

 

Two years ago Swampscott High's principal hired music teacher Scott Winship at 40 percent of fulltime with the hope of increasing his position to fulltime after one or two years.

Going into the 2013-14 school year the teacher/band director's position remains at 40 percent.

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And it does not appear that is going to change any time soon, though there are many who would like that change to happen.

At the June 5, School Committee meeting some 40 people packed the room on the music teacher's behalf.

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At least seven current and former students and three parents spoke passionately about how Winship has raised the bar, musically speaking, and inspired his students, said Maureen Thomsen, co-president for the POPS group, Patrons for the Performing Students.

The entire band signed a petition on behalf of their director, she said.

In short, "He wants to stay and we want him to," she said. 

The problem comes with the 40 percent time, which limits his earnings and does not qualify the teacher for health benefits.

His first choice is to stay with the Swampscott program he has been building but he needs fulltime work and expects to move on if a fulltime position becomes available, he said.

Meanwhile, last week, before the School Committee meeting, POPS co-president Maureen Thomsen met with Superintendent Lynne Celli, Assistant Superintendent Pam Angelakis, Business Manager Ed Cronin and Middle School Principal Bob Murphy.

The conversation topic was the music program.

Thomsen believes the administrators are making a good faith effort to increase the music teacher's hours to make it pallatable for him to stay.

Still, she said, "Other jobs are out there and we expect him to apply for other jobs."

Superintendent Lynne Celli said in an interview that the administrative team is looking at music class enrollment numbers and looking at what can be done to strengthen a feeder program, music at the middle and elementary school levels.

They are looking at the numbers and seeing what they can do, she said.

The superintendent said administrators recognize that the teacher/band director has been dedicated and done wonderful work.

Still, the teacher said he was told a few weeks ago that next year he will again be only 0.4 part-time.

Measures that could help increase the number of students taking music electives have been introduced to the School Committee, but the measures await further study and need to be formally adopted as policy changes.

The items are a proposal to increase graduation credit requirements and a proposal to restrict open campus privileges.

By increasing students' class load from five to six classes more students would be taking more classes. 

And restrictions to open campus could result in more students electing to take classes rather than opting for free periods.

As it stands at least seniors have the freedom to leave school grounds if they do not have a class.

For his part, the music teacher said the situation is frustrating.  

"I hope I can stay here in Swampscott," he said. "It’s truly a wonderful town and I would love to have a long career here.  But I really need a fulltime job at this point – or I will need to seriously consider moving on to another school system."


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