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Midland teacher urges board to keep full-time PE and music positions
Summary
Midland Elementary physical education teacher Mandy Bielen told the board projected enrollment and program needs justify retaining separate full‑time PE and music teachers rather than combining them into a split role.
Mandy Bielen, physical education teacher at Midland Elementary, asked the board to retain full-time physical education and music positions at her school. She said current projections show 122 kindergarten through 4th grade students and about 20 pre‑K students, bringing total projected enrollment to 142 without overflow from other schools, and argued that part-time or shared staffing would reduce instructional time and program quality.
"These programs are essential components of a well rounded education... Reducing these offerings could negatively impact enrollment and community confidence in our school," Bielen said. Board members and staff discussed how a split PE/music schedule operates at other schools (Colton was described as using a Monday/Wednesday PE, Tuesday/Thursday music schedule) and whether an elementary-certified teacher could cover both subjects. Administration said principals would likely determine any scheduling of a combined position and agreed to provide scheduling details at a follow-up meeting.
The board did not take a formal vote on staffing at Midland during the hearing; administrators promised to return with clarifications.
