The status of teacher layoffs and their impact on the instrumental music program in the New Haven Unified School District is currently this:

To be laid off May 15 as a result of the school board resolution to eliminate all electives K-8:

Doris Gallagher

Patricia Hurtado

Ken Karlin

Rina Momeny

This effectively eliminates all the current school band directors in New Haven except for Ramiro Barrera and Nelson Agregado.

The New Haven Teacher's Association, under the leadership of Charmaine Banther, is asking that all of it's prospectively laid off members waive their right to an individual hearing so that negotiations may begin as soon as possible.  At best, it is unclear if advocacy for and preservation of the instrumental music program at its nationally recognized high level of quality would be present in these negotiations.  At worst, such advocacy may not exist at all.

I have found it in my best interest to not sign the NHTA waiver and pursue a request for a hearing so that I may interact directly with administrators regarding my impending layoff. 

This is a break from the union's recommendation.  I do not believe any longer that NHTA advocates for me or the other band directors in this current situation.

While encouraging me to sign the waiver, Mrs. Banther explained to me that she had spent three months of her life advocating for last year's parcel tax, and that she had not seen any of the band directors at these events.  The clear implication is that the band directors did not work hard enough to gain funding or support for our programs, and now are deservedly reaping what was sown.  

To be clear: there has been no commitment to me from the New Haven Unified School District that funds raised in the parcel tax measure last year or this year would be used to fully fund, partially fund or not fund the instrumental music program.  There is no assurance that my position as Associate Director of Bands at James Logan High School, Conductor, James Logan Symphonic Band, Associate Conductor, James Logan Concert Band, James Logan Wind Symphony, Director of Jazz Ensembles and Combos, Ensemble Coordinator and Visual Caption Head of the James Logan Marching Band and Color Guard, Visual Designer of the James Logan Scholastic World Class Winter Percussion Ensemble, Director (volunteer) New Haven Middle School Jazz Ensemble --would be preserved. 

Though I did not attend any parcel tax rallies, I have been present at the marching band shows, wind band concerts and festivals, jazz band concerts and festivals, winter percussion shows, winter color guard shows, Winter Wonderland Spectacular, Show of Shows Spring Gala, solo and ensemble festivals, and all the outside of school hours rehearsal required for the approximately 40 performances given by the band directors and their students annually. This is advocacy--and the high quality of the performances only enhances such displays of art and reminds our supportive community of its worth.  (Full disclosure: I receive semester stipends as pay for this additional time spent out of the classroom.  The amounts are open documents from the district for all to see.  They are a blessing, but of course not commensurate with time served, as our athletic coaches and others know all too well.)

I invite union representatives to attend one or some of our highly attended events and request permission to address the gathered community there and express their strong advocacy for and educational philosophy that values the arts--and particularly instrumental music--and that apparently the only way it is to be maintained is through the parcel tax measure. 

Here is the language for the current parcel tax measure, Measure H:

To support high-quality local elementary, middle and high school education
to prepare students for college and careers with outstanding core academic
programs in reading, writing, math and science and highly qualified teachers
and classified staff, shall New Haven Unified School District, authorize a
school parcel tax of $180 per year, for four years, with citizen oversight, no
funds for administrators’ salaries, an exemption available for seniors and the
disabled, and all funds staying in our local schools

Attached is a fact sheet concerning Measure H.  The only bullet point that could be interpreted as advocacy for instrumental music is:

*Ensure that our schools continue to offer a well-rounded education, including after-school
activities that help kids stay on track


Many times instrumental music is mentioned as an extra-curricular activity.  It is important to realize that instrumental music is curricular, and that the curriculum has been altered by the board resolution--compromised, minimized and lessened in quality.  Nearly irreplaceable personnel are being removed from the school district, your student's lives, and for the foreseeable future.  This is a major change in the philosophy of education in the New Haven Unified School District.  There is a clamor for free and equal public education under the law.  Anyone who has ever attended a school music festival knows that this is fallacy when applied to school music programs: some districts and communities value and support such programs and attract highly motivated and gifted personnel--New Haven Unified has been one of those districts. Mr. Barrera was RECRUITED  to Union City with a mandate from district and community to create an extraordinary program.  It has been built and carefully maintained. THIS MANDATE HAS JUST BEEN REVOKED BY THE MOST RECENT BOARD RESOLUTION.