Hundreds of students, parents urge Greenwich BOE to restore music teacher role and keep band director at GHS

Dozens of students, parents and PTA leaders packed the Greenwich Board of Education meeting and urged the board to reverse a proposed reduction that would move longtime Greenwich High School band director Michael Breaux out of the high school and reduce the district’s music staff.

Students and family members described the band program as a “family” that relies on Breaux’s daily presence and coaching. “Please reinstate Mister Breaux and preserve the fifth FTE,” student Miller Fishback told the board, saying Breaux had helped rebuild the program after COVID disruptions. Multiple speakers said they feared consolidating music duties onto one teacher would force cuts to ensembles, the jazz festival and after‑school offerings.

The push came during an extended public comment period focused on one agenda item: staffing changes in the music department for next school year. Parents and student leaders said the board’s budget reductions and lower course requests had led administrators to propose shifting Breaux to a middle school and reducing the high school music staff from five full‑time positions to fewer. “Mister Bro is the only faculty member at GHS that I really trust,” rising senior Elias Sorrell said. “Losing him at GHS would be like losing a family member.”

Why it matters: speakers said the changes would reduce students’ access to ensemble classes, private‑lesson supplements and signature events such as the annual Essentially Ellington Jazz Festival and the pep band at football games. Several students said music participation supports their academic and emotional engagement with school: “It gives students who may not shine in other subjects a place to feel confident and proud,” sophomore Michael Wooten told the board.

Board reaction and district staffing details Superintendent Dr. Jones acknowledged the passion of the speakers and told the board she would “go back tomorrow and continue to reflect” on staffing and schedule choices. She said building schedules are assembled from student course requests and that overall enrollment changes — the driver, she said, of many shift decisions — had decreased demand across disciplines.

District staff later offered specifics in the meeting. At one point Dana (district scheduler) told the board, “when you compare last year's numbers to this year's numbers, we had roughly 100 less requests total among the entire music department.” Assistant or central staff member Ralph said the district currently has five full‑time music teachers and “we are moving to 4.2 music teachers for next year.” Dana added that AP Music Theory would not run in person because only five students requested it; the district planned to offer an online option for those students instead.

Discussion versus decision The board did not take an immediate vote to restore a position or reverse the staffing decision during the meeting. Dr. Jones said administrators would review the schedule and staffing again. The superintendent also noted work underway to add a new position focused on student wellness and supports, and emphasized the district’s need to balance staffing across all departments while remaining fiscally responsible.

What speakers asked the board to do Speakers requested that the board (a) reinstate the fifth full‑time music teaching position at Greenwich High School, (b) preserve Breaux’s assignment at GHS to maintain program continuity and (c) protect the district’s ability to run ensembles and signature events. PTA Council president John Fisher urged the board to “embrace and own the fiduciary responsibility” for equitable arts programming and warned against sending central administration out of town property such as the Havemeyer Building.

Next steps Board members acknowledged the urgency in public comments and the superintendent said staff would reconvene quickly to review schedules. Dana and Ralph said detailed section assignments were still being finalized and would be shared with department leaders; the board said it expects additional conversations over the summer. No formal reversal of the staffing plan was made at the meeting.

Ending: The band community’s testimony extended across more than an hour of public comment. Board members repeatedly thanked students for showing up; the superintendent promised follow‑up discussions, and district staff provided enrollment and staffing numbers that will shape any further action.