MONROE - Community donations are funding an instrumental music instructor position at Monroe High School, but the future of that position after this school year is uncertain.
This is the third year the citizens group CHIME, which stands for Community Helping Instrumental Music Education, has funded the position. Money funded a part-time band instructor position its first year, and a full-time position last year and this year.
The group came together in response to a budget shortfall that forced deep cuts throughout the school district in 2006. When the district decided it was necessary to cut one of four band instructors, two at Monroe Middle and two at Monroe High School, the group formed in the spring of 2006 to raise money to pay to keep the fourth position.
With about 400 students in the program, four instructors are needed, the group said at the time.
All told, CHIME has raised $120,000. Money has come from individuals, businesses and organizations, MHS band instructor Tom Schilt said. The group pays for both salary and the cost of benefits for Dan Henkel, the second instructor at MHS.
Money is set aside in the Monroe Foundation and the school district draws upon that money.
This is the last year of the group's three-year commitment, MHS principal Mark Burandt said. That means the school district is going to have to make a decision: It will either need to fund the position or reduce the number of instructors to three.
No formal action on that decision has started yet, he said, but he anticipates discussions on the matter would start sometime in the near future.
This is the third year the citizens group CHIME, which stands for Community Helping Instrumental Music Education, has funded the position. Money funded a part-time band instructor position its first year, and a full-time position last year and this year.
The group came together in response to a budget shortfall that forced deep cuts throughout the school district in 2006. When the district decided it was necessary to cut one of four band instructors, two at Monroe Middle and two at Monroe High School, the group formed in the spring of 2006 to raise money to pay to keep the fourth position.
With about 400 students in the program, four instructors are needed, the group said at the time.
All told, CHIME has raised $120,000. Money has come from individuals, businesses and organizations, MHS band instructor Tom Schilt said. The group pays for both salary and the cost of benefits for Dan Henkel, the second instructor at MHS.
Money is set aside in the Monroe Foundation and the school district draws upon that money.
This is the last year of the group's three-year commitment, MHS principal Mark Burandt said. That means the school district is going to have to make a decision: It will either need to fund the position or reduce the number of instructors to three.
No formal action on that decision has started yet, he said, but he anticipates discussions on the matter would start sometime in the near future.