Claysburg mulls cutting band post

Residents turn out to oppose proposal to eliminate position

CLAYSBURG -- A proposal to eliminate the high school band teacher position was tabled after more than 30 students, faculty, parents and alumni voiced their displeasure with the plan during the public comment portion of the Claysburg-Kimmel school board meeting Wednesday evening.

Word spread through the district earlier this week that there was a proposal to eliminate a music teacher/instructor position, and on Wednesday, the board took to Facebook in an effort to reassure the community that no music programs were going to be eliminated.

That didn't stop the outcry, as district residents took turns during the public comment section of the meeting to question the board over the decision to make such a cut in light of a new athletic complex being constructed.

One parent pointed out the athletic complex showed the district was on stable financial footing while others said their students came home from school crying about the plan to cut the band director position, currently held by Matthew Stombaugh.

According to the board's agenda, the resolution to eliminate the position was created "in order to promote a more effective and efficient educational program and to conform with standards of reorganization, to approve alteration/curtailment of the educational program."

Before opening the floor to public comment, board President Richard Gergely said that "in respect to the announcement that was sent from the school district today to our community, to our students or family, we just want to reiterate that we are not considering the elimination of any music curriculums or any music programs at this district."

Despite those reassurances, for more than an hour people voiced their support for the band position and questioned how eliminating the position and putting its responsibilities on another educator could not negatively impact the district's music education programs.

Angela Ebersole, who has a child in middle school, said that without Stombaugh, Travis Leap, the district's other music teacher, would not possibly be able to "do both jobs with the same amount of vigor he could put into the one he holds now."

"Why is it we are looking to cut any position to our teaching staff or cost at all to our children's education, as we can easily walk out back and see obviously, as a town we're doing quite well financially by the size and grandeur of that new athletic complex," Ebersole said. "Because I know there is no way we would have backed ourselves into a financial corner by overspending on that, because if we overspent on that it would mean money would have to come from somewhere else."

Claysburg-Kimmel alumna Maria McElhenney echoed those sentiments, saying that "taking this time away from lessons, rehearsals or planning to squeeze it into other already full time positions is jeopardizing the quality and achievement and excellence of which you have aspired to develop, enable and empower in each of your students according to (the district's) mission statement."

Tiffany Tomlinson, a former band member who has a daughter in the district, said that "when your daughter comes home crying and devastated because you're going to cut your band director, it hurts, it hurts hard."

Tomlinson also said that "everything was fine and good with Mr. Stombaugh until he asked for some help on Friday nights" and offered the board a solution, saying that, as someone with their clearances, she was "willing to step up to the plate and be assistant to Mr. Stombaugh so that he would be able to have some work-life balance, and be able to go with these kids on Friday nights."

Many students also spoke in support of not only the district's music programs but of Stombaugh himself, with some wiping away tears. They agreed that in addition to being a music teacher, Stombaugh acted as an important father figure, a mentor and friend who had turned the band room into a safe haven. Alumni credited Stombaugh for their success, saying they wouldn't be the people they were without him.

"I can speak for everyone here that eliminating Mr. Stombaugh's position doesn't just affect our education, but it also affects everyone personally," student Cameron Claycomb said. "Mr. Stombaugh isn't just an educator. He's a role model and someone that we can all look to when we're in need of help."

High school junior Alexis Claycomb said that the prospect of Stombaugh's position being eliminated has been "very emotional."

"I have not had a father figure in my life," Claycomb said. "He was one for me. I've gone through everything with him -- from every hardship, everything. He's pushed me so hard in every aspect."

Following the end of public comment, board member Mandi Daugherty made the motion to table the item pending further discussion. Board member Heidi Kennedy seconded the motion.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.