Parents, teachers and students urge board to preserve music classes and outdoor school amid budget shortfall

Dozens of parents, students and teachers told the Midland County School District Board of Directors on June 26 that proposed program cuts would damage students’ learning and extracurricular opportunities.

Speakers centered their remarks on two proposed reductions: a reduction in middle-school music staffing and the district’s possible withdrawal from the overnight fifth-grade outdoor school program run in partnership with Penn State. Many described long-term personal and community benefits from those programs and urged the board to find alternatives to program cuts while it resolves a reported budget shortfall.

The appeal came during an extended public-comment period. Parents, students and teachers said the music program provides structure, academic benefits and social belonging; several described lifelong involvement in local ensembles that began in school. Student Daniel Garner, a 2022 graduate, told the board that earlier music instruction “enhances their spiritual life” and that music students often outperform peers on standardized tests. At one point a public commenter urged the board simply: “Keep the music. Let them thrive.”

Why it matters: Speakers tied program reductions to a districtwide funding gap they said totals about $4,690,000 and to unanticipated charter-school tuition costs. Del Fuller, speaking for the Association of Midland County Educators, noted the district budgeted $2,500,000 for charter tuition but spent about $4,100,000, and warned that cutting a single teacher position would not erase the shortfall. Several callers argued that cutting the music staff would weaken the pipeline of students who sustain award-winning high‑school ensembles and extracurriculars.

Board action and status: The board took no vote to eliminate the overnight fifth‑grade outdoor school program. At the agenda item titled “recommend approval to eliminate participation in the overnight fifth‑grade outdoor school program,” a board member moved to table the item but no second was offered; a board member later said there had been “no motion and no second” and the item was not acted on. The transcript shows multiple public speakers had tied opposition to that elimination to the district’s ongoing partnership with Penn State’s outdoor‑education center.

On the issue of music staffing, members of the public repeatedly referenced a district budget presentation and urged the board to preserve the middle‑school music position that commenters said the district planned to eliminate “through attrition.” Those remarks came after public mention that the district’s plan to address the reported $4,690,000 gap included cutting one music teacher (a figure described in public comments as about $125,000 in salary and benefits) and reducing the outdoor‑school program. The board later adopted the district’s 2025–26 general fund budget (see separate votes summary); the budget vote record does not, in the public record in the transcript, specify final staffing line‑items tied to the public comments.

Speakers and who they represent: Commenters included parents, current and former students, and classroom teachers. Among those who spoke on these topics were Kelly Rivera (parent/resident); Del Fuller (Association of Midland County Educators); Sue Bart (parent and educator); Susan Smith (special‑education teacher at Midland County Middle School); Daniel Garner (resident and 2022 graduate); Jason Zerrid (resident/parent); Alice Woodring (taxpayer); Bill Hirey (community member); and others who identified as parents or students. Several speakers noted personal experience with Penn State’s outdoor‑education program and with the district’s marching‑band and choir traditions.

Community context and clarifying details: Public speakers said the district faces a roughly $4,690,000 budget gap. Commenters reported that charter tuition was budgeted at about $2,500,000 but the district spent about $4,100,000 this year; speakers attributed part of the shortfall to that difference. Speakers said the personnel reduction under discussion equated to roughly one music teacher (public comments described the cost-savings as “about $125,000” including salary and benefits). Those dollar figures and staff impacts were described in public comment; the transcript records them as reported by speakers and board discussion but does not present a separate, board‑adopted staffing schedule in the record.

Board response and next steps: Board members did not advance the outdoor‑school elimination as an agenda action. The board adopted its annual general fund budget later in the meeting; the transcript does not show a separate, final vote recorded that explicitly confirms or denies the specific music staffing changes the public addressed. Several speakers urged the board to revisit budget priorities, to consider modest annual tax increases rather than program cuts, and to explore ways to reduce charter tuition outflow so local programming can be preserved.

The public comment period on this issue drew a large turnout and repeated appeals to maintain both the middle‑school music program and access to the overnight outdoor‑education experience. The board’s formal recorded action on the outdoor‑school item was “no action” (no motion/second). The community expressed intent to follow the board’s budget and staffing decisions in coming weeks.