Parents Urge KP School Committee To Keep Music Director Music-Only

Parents came to Monday night's King Philip School Committee meeting to protest a plan that would have the school's music director teach a history course.

The parents claimed Music Director Joshua Wolloff's workload was already excessive, and adding a history course could hurt the music program.

Barbara Snead, the president of the King Philip Music Association, said the move was not using Wolloff's talents properly.

"No offense to our current music teacher, but he's not a highly qualified history teacher," she said. "He's a highly qualified teacher of art."

According to Snead, Wolloff deals with more students than the typical teacher.

"In the music program, there are 192 students — History will add 30 students," she said. "The average teacher has 150 students."

Snead asked the committee to change the definition of the position.

"Our purpose in being here is our belief that the music teacher position should be 80 percent teacher, 20 percent administrator," she said. "It would be like the athletic director."

King Philip High School Principal Robert Wargo said such a mix could be problematic.

"We try to separate a teacher from their extracurricular stipend position," he said. "We don't have the athletic director coaching football or teaching a class — it should be one or the other."

Parent Bob Cohen said separating the two would be counterproductive in today's cost-conscious environment.

"There's no reason to have the current music director break off and do solely administrative duties," he said. "This is a time when we're all looking for ways to save resources."

District Superintendent Elizabeth Zielinski said it was those concerns that led to the current situation.

"We've dealt with many, many budget concerns," she said. "We have a middle school that's bursting at the seams."

"This isn't permanent," she added.

Parents said Wolloff had not received support from the history department, a charge Wolloff disputed.

"There has been contact between me and the history department," he said. "I know they'll support me."

Committee member Patrick Francomano said this could be a chance to examine the school's priorities when it comes to extracurricular activities.

"I think this is the perfect opportunity to look at music, drama [and the choral program," he said. "What is King Philip's goal for the arts as a whole?"

The committee did not take action on the matter.