Parents, students and educators urge Neshaminy board not to eliminate elementary music teacher position

Dozens of parents, students and community members urged the Neshaminy School District Board of School Directors on Monday to retain an elementary music teacher position rather than eliminate it through attrition, saying the program’s statewide recognition and student supports would be harmed.

At the first public-comment period, speakers described long-standing achievements in the district’s music program, recounted personal experiences of student growth and mental-health support, and pressed board members for clarity about how eliminating the position would affect classroom schedules and teacher workload. “When quality suffers, enrollment drops in music programs and those losses can ripple into other areas,” Rebecca Johnson, a school counselor and 2012 district graduate, told the board.

The pleas followed a report from the superintendent praising students who had recently won awards in arts and sciences; commenters said that record of excellence made cutting a teacher especially damaging. Jerry Krause, who identified himself as a substitute teacher and parent, said the program produces “confidence, community, character, and leadership,” and asked: “With nearly $947,000 budget reserve this upcoming year, surely, we can afford to preserve that staff.”

Why it matters: Neshaminy has been recognized as one of the best communities for music education for nine consecutive years, a point repeated by several speakers as evidence that the district should not reduce music staffing. Parents and students said removing one teacher would increase class sizes, reduce individualized instruction, and risk teacher burnout or loss of personnel. Student Gianna Garcia described music as “a home” where she became confident and made lasting friends.

What speakers asked for: Commenters asked the board to (1) provide a clear plan showing how schedules and coverage would work if the district does not fill the retiring position, (2) reconsider using attrition to remove the role, and (3) explore alternatives to cutting teaching staff. Several speakers noted a petition with more than 2,600 signatures asking the board to keep the position.

Board response and next steps: Board members who took part in the meeting did not announce a reversal of the staffing decision during public comment. After the public-comment period the board moved into routine matters and approved a slate of administrative and personnel items. The public-record motions taken at the meeting were procedural and did not change the district’s staffing plan for the music teacher position.

Votes at a glance (board action taken at the same meeting): - Master motion covering routine matters (agenda items 2.01–2.07) — motion placed by Board Member Allen; second by Board Member Tina Hollenbeck; passed 8–0. - Master motion covering certificated personnel items (3.01–3.05, retirements/resignations/appointments) — motion placed by Board Member Marshall; second by Board Member Brocious; passed 8–0. - Master motion covering support personnel items (4.01–4.05) — motion placed by Board Member Brocious; second by Board Member Rodriguez; passed 8–0. - Master motion covering business operations (5.01–5.17, including annual appointments and contracted services) — motion placed by Board Member Tina Hollenbeck; second by Board Member Marshall; passed 8–0.

The meeting record shows the board approved those administrative and personnel packages unanimously, but the motions did not include language rescinding the decision to eliminate the elementary music position through attrition. Multiple parents asked the board to publish a detailed schedule and staffing plan before implementing the attrition-based change.

Speakers quoted in this article appeared during the meeting’s public-comment period; their remarks raised concerns about scheduling, teacher workload, student supports and community trust. No formal board vote on the music staffing decision was recorded during the meeting.

The board moved on to additional agenda items after the public-comment period; the district did not announce a timeline for a decision reversal or additional public hearings about the staffing change.