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Making Music with Less Money

SCRANTON — Two school districts in Lackawanna County are facing losses in their music programs, but because of an outcry from students and parents, distri...

SCRANTON -- Two school districts in Lackawanna County are facing losses in their music programs, but because of an outcry from students and parents, district administrators in Scranton and in the Abingtons are going to try to do more with less.

The superintendents at the Scranton School District and the Abington Heights School District say they will have music teachers retiring this year that they can't afford to replace, but students and parents in both districts have made it clear they don't want any music programs to go away, putting administrators in a predicament.

Thomas Frew is preparing some of his music students for his final final exam. Frew is one of two retiring music teachers at West Scranton. Frew's position will not be filled.

"It's the reality of what public education has become. You have to look under every stone to find out if there's a situation where you can save some money," said Scranton interim superintendent John Marichak.

Marichak says he was bombarded with messages from students and parents worried that West Scranton's music program would suffer.

It sent a clear message and the district decided to restructure the way it teaches music classes in order to keep the marching band up and running.

"Research indicates, and I believe in it, that the best students we have study music. They excel in the classroom, so I certainly don't ever want to take an opportunity away from a child," said Marichak.

"I think if they're cutting back anything, it should not be this, at all, in any school district, any state, anywhere," said senior Katherine Riley.

Another district in Lackawanna County is in the same predicament. Abington Heights will not fill a music teacher position come next fall.

"We're looking, K through 12, to utilize our staff in a better way or a more efficient way to try to provide the same services that we have been providing, perhaps altered or changed a little bit, but to do it in a way with a smaller staff to help the crisis that we're facing with our budget," said Abington Heights superintendent Michael Mahon.

Mahon got a different kind of message from students and parents: an online petition that's gained almost 1,300 names supporting the fourth grade violin program that could be on the chopping block.

"We're excited about the fact that parents are advocating for their children and their programs. And I would suggest that not only should they be advocating with the school districts, also its time to advocate with Harrisburg."

Many who signed the online petition plan to petition in person at an Abington Heights School Board meeting Wednesday evening.

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