Unified Arts Staff Idea No Longer on Table

The Marple Newtown Board of School Directors heard the outcry of parents, students and residents who were very much against the idea of sharing arts staff at the district's elementary level.

At an April 16 committee meeting, the board agreed to no longer pursue the idea of unified arts staff on the elementary level.

At an April 9 budget committee meeting, hundreds of parents voiced concerns over the proposal that would share teachers for music, library, art and physical education at the elementary level.

A petition was also created regarding the Loomis Elementary School music teacher Dan Peters, who would have been moved to the high school level.

School Board President Kathryn Chandless told Patch that everyone on the board agreed not to look further at the unified elementary schedule, as it was presented at the budget committee meeting.

"Everyone agreed that they did not favor or want to go forward with a plan that involved loss of staff or relocation of Dan Peters," Chandless said in an email message.

The district will fill the positions that will be vacant due to retirement, she said.

"If the administration still believes that some form of a unified schedule is useful and feasible without any cuts at all and without relocating or sharing any staff, then we could consider holding a workshop or some other public discussion about it," Chandless said.

However, the support and input of the administration, faculty and community would be needed in order for that to happen, she said.

There should be no further discussion about the matter at the regular board meeting next week and because no motion was ever made regarding the matter, the board will not vote on anything regarding the idea, Chandless said.

"The board and administration are working with a parent advisory committee to discuss programs and to improve channels of communication as well," she said.