Speaker asks district to fill music post
School Board may make appointment ThursdayBy MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald
JOHNSTOWN - A public speaker last week urged the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education to fill two music directorships that music teacher Daniel Jones was stripped of July 23. District officials said that may happen Thursday.
The board last summer decided not to reappoint Jones as director of the Johnstown High School marching band, jazz band and winter guard.
Board members earlier this month voted to approve the co-curricular staff appointment of James Morton as the marching band director for $2,856. Jones was named as an unpaid marching band assistant.
The board has never stated publicly why Jones was relieved of the three directorships, which caused considerable community backlash. The board did say in July it investigated how a Johnstown High School Wind Ensemble trip Feb. 10 to New York City to play at Carnegie Hall was paid for.
Last week, public speaker Eileen Brink told the board she was concerned the music program needs to move ahead even though the other two directorships haven't been filled yet. She said the district's Music Department has worked hard to put in recommendations for tryouts for the JHS Winter Guard, which are supposed to occur in October.
She said if the district waits too long, the competition season will pass by. She requested the board "move forward" on a recommendation to fill the directorships.
"The kids have paid a very, very dear price for what has happened," Brink said.
Board President Robert Curtis said Friday the district hasn't filled the jazz band and winter guard directorships yet, but hopes to by its next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Glebe Street Elementary School.
In other discussion before the board last week, Superintendent Katherine A. Sullivan reported new Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Health & Recreation James Robare said the district will implement an athlete mentoring program Oct. 23. She said the program will start at Warren Street Elementary School and involve JHS athletes going there at the end of the school day to mentor younger students.
New Warren Street Elementary School Principal R. Scott Ziomek said he sees many potential advantages to bringing in the 27 student-athletes.
"I think we'll take these athletes and use them as role models for our school," Ziomek said.
The board noted the Audit Committee will review whether the $25 per event fee for a musical accompanist at district events should be raised.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.
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EAchzet
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10-02-09 12:39 AM
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Nevermind, I just re-read your post. You were referring to a past article without quotations around it to cite what you were saying. Apologies.
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EAchzet
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10-02-09 12:37 AM
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PatriciaL, what do you mean by "WE are going to be looking into"? Care to elaborate? Because if you are on the board, then should you not be discussing these matters at all? Let alone on a public forum?
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PatriciaL
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09-27-09 11:00 AM
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Ok.. Here we go again with the Board are this the board is that. People open up your eyes obviously they had enough on Mr. Jones to not reinstate. However you got him as an unpaid advisor guess that was not good enough! Guess you people were wrong he won't do it for nothing! Oh by the way-- being an extra curricular advisor and a teacher are two diffent positions one does not automatically discount the other. The issues may not have anything to do with him in the classroom. Again do you remember the last article of what the board was going to be overseeing, we are going to be looking at who works with the kids, fiances, etc.. Small minded people; read in between the lines. Again, quit blaming others and look at the man in questioned. Even the talented have their flaws.
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Discobulous
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09-26-09 3:53 PM
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No doubt Sullivan had a hand in it. She was always a domineering control freak when I knew her. But those are the squeaky wheels that get the oil. Meanwhile, keep voting all incumbents out of office.
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MadAmerican
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09-26-09 3:40 PM
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Lack of leadership in the GJSD is the cause of all these little fire that keep popping up. Time ti get rid of Sullivan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Musicel
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09-26-09 12:01 PM
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Enough will be said when the board resolves the issue and the youngsters who are in the program are not negatively affected.
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FactOrFiction
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09-26-09 10:23 AM
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Well here we go again!Bottom line Re-Instate Mr Jones.As others have said;Mr Jones is still a teacher in the district. Enough said.
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Musicel
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09-26-09 9:54 AM
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If Mr. Jones is still a teacher in Johnstown, then what ever he did can't be that horrible. The whole thing has been handle very poorly. The School Board is lacking intelligence in many areas. A change is needed.
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freebird
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09-26-09 9:47 AM
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Folks, don't let these kids down anymore. It will be embarrassing enough tonight for them, since arrangements to have the auditor sit with the ticket sellers and the concession stand will be overlooking the parents who are respectful and honest. Don't take this problem out on those kids or the great group of parents that are now steering this music dept. Also, it will be very unlikely that any child has the responsibility to pick up the spectators trash after this event. The sports teams don't do this, nor does anyone else. Were talking trash, not the normal clean up of the concession stand. I believe enough embarrassment has already harmed these kids. You can take your litter bag and fill it yourself. These are Johnstown High School Students that carry that name, not some private sector from out of state.It is time to stop the harassment of the music depts. kids and parents. Wishing all of kids the best of luck in your music careers, and don't give up. It is not your fault.
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