Ramapo-Indian Hills Music Program Reduced

Certain aspects of the music program in the Ramapo-Indian Hills Regional High School District will be reduced going into the 2013-14 school year.

The Board of Education has accepted the resignation of Steven Zimmerman who was responsible for teaching four music courses in the RIH district. In finding a replacement for Zimmerman, the Board of Education has decided to hire a new part time employee who will teach only two courses.

“Music parents in our district, just like all the other parents, are looking for the very best for their kids,” said Superintendent Lauren Schoen. “They don’t want decreased personnel in a department they want to thrive. Music had a decreased enrollment this year of about 42 students. That means few sections were needed to accommodate the student requests.”

Dozens of parents and students came to the Board of Education meeting to support the music program in the district and voice their concerns about the future of the program.

Mitchell Shin, an Oakland resident and a junior at Ramapo High School, asked the question of how will this effect the lesson scheduling in both schools?

“That’s a great question and that will be something that is determined by the instructors themselves,” answered Schoen.

“So the Board of Education is unaware of how these cuts will effect the lessons that are occurring at both schools and whether or not that will inconvenience anyone?” asked Shin.

“The Board of Education has an understanding of what the effect could be based on different scenarios that I’ve come out with,” said Schoen. “The music department has its group of sections and it needs to determine its best way to set those up.”

 Music theory will only be offered at Indian Hills in 2013-14, which will inevitably cause more students to commute between schools. Many in attendance also felt that offering classes in only one school would be a deterrent to many students considering music classes.