HMS music program shrunk, not cut

MAT-SU -- Houston Middle School's music program fell short a number of projected students this year, forcing new principal Andy Murr to make a quick decision: The full-time music teacher was transferred to Larson Elementary, and the Houston High School music teacher now teaches one period of band at the middle school.

"We have to staff for the program," Murr said. "In no way are we trying to do away with music, its very important."

At the beginning of the school year, there were only 40 students in band and three or four students in the choir class, he said. The core classes, such as English, math and science, had overcrowded classrooms. Murr elected to shrink the music program and hire another core teacher. While things have been running smoothly since, there have been some complaints from parents.

"Unfortunately, I had to make a quick decision," Murr said. "I didn't have a lot of time to consult with parents or the community."

Murr was hired as the principal in late May, and although he and other Houston teachers stayed a few days extra after their contract ended, they were unable to foresee the change in music interest. Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District chief school administrator Bob Doyle said that the late hire of the principal made it especially difficult for Murr to change schedules until after classes already began.

"The principal was hired late; those adjustments made at other schools were never made," Doyle said. "[Music] class sizes were 10 to 15, math was really big at 40 or more. [Murr] had to make an adjustment."

Murr said that although Houston Middle is still ironing out a few minor scheduling issues, the school as a whole is running quite well.

"It's all working very smoothly right now, we've identified where the kids need to be," he said.

Murr also said he and the teachers are already looking at the future of the music program next year; they are talking with grade-school teachers to see if there is more interest and a need for a larger program in the future.

Although the music program is not as large as in years' past, Murr said the school still plans on band performances this winter. Because all of the grades now play together, the instructor is still feeling out the capabilities of the group, and does not know when the concerts will be.

"The band will perform; I think we are planning on two concerts," Murr said. "It will be a regular performance, just on a smaller scale."