Frontier students urge board to replace retiring music teacher, warn program would suffer without specialized staff

Dozens of Frontier High School students told the Frontier Central School District Board of Education on March 18 that the district should replace a retiring music teacher and retain specialized music staffing to preserve lessons, ensembles and student engagement.

Students described the district’s music program as a formative community that provides rehearsal-based learning, motivation to attend school, and academic benefits. Multiple students said that if the retiring teacher is not replaced, the department would be reduced to three total music teachers across band, choir and orchestra at the high school, which they said would sharply reduce lesson time and ensemble quality.

The students’ concerns included concrete enrollment and program details. “Currently, there are 55 students in our orchestra,” student representative Will Migas said. Several students said roughly one-third of the high school participates in a music class; James Connors said that every valedictorian from 2019 through 2025 had been a member of a music ensemble. Abby Nico Itroff, identified as a senior, said, “Not replacing the music teacher who is retiring will only be detrimental.”

Students emphasized specialized instruction for instruments. Lily Destin, who said she plays cello and clarinet, told the board that non‑specialist teachers struggle to teach instrument‑specific techniques: “Even a talented band or chorus teacher cannot help me with [cello] technique.” Alexis Estapo urged the board to hire “a real orchestra teacher, not just a teacher who has a musical education.”

Superintendent Swiatek responded later in the meeting, acknowledging the remarks and explaining the district is facing “financial challenges due to rising costs, reduced federal funding, and economic uncertainties.” Swiatek said proposed staff reductions through retirements “were not made lightly,” that the district has worked to minimize impact, and that the board and administration welcome continued community input during the budget process: “These proposed reductions in staff through retirements were not made lightly.”

Board members thanked students for speaking and said they had heard the concerns. During roundtable queries several board members, including Miss Hefner and Mr. Bodo, publicly thanked students for their presentations and praised the music program’s outcomes. Board members said that further discussion would take place as the district proceeds with its budget review.

The board did not take a formal vote about music staffing at the meeting. Several students were told they could submit written comments to the superintendent or district clerk if they did not speak during the allotted public‑comment time.

Next steps indicated in the meeting: the district will continue budgeting work over the coming weeks and the board said it would continue conversations about staffing and program impacts during that process.