(Editor's Note: Garden City Board of Education President Kenneth Monaghan read the following statement regarding Michael Guido, a music teacher transferred from the Garden City Middle School's Band Department to teach in the district's primary schools.)

The debate regarding the transfer of one of our music teachers from the middle school to the primary schools continues to rage both in the press and on the street. While the board appreciates that not all agree with the decision the administration made, which the board supports, we are nonetheless disturbed by the inaccuracy of some of the information. We would therefore like to clear the air.

First, there has always been a criterion for participation in the select band. Last year, for example, a grade of 91 was required. This year a playing assessment was used instead since it is too early in the school year to use grades as a tool for placement.

Second, contrary to the reports of the demise of the middle school band program, participation is up. Last October, the combined enrollment in the morning music programs, including select band, the No Joe and No Otis ensembles and the flute and clarinet choirs or ensembles, was 135. This year, the combined enrollment in the morning music programs, including select band and the new programs, jazz ensemble, jazz band and Dixieland band, is 249.

Third, last year the number of students in select band increased from 65 at the beginning of the year to 98 in May as more students met the performance criteria. This year, we already have 81 students and expect, like last year, that the number will increase as more students meet the criteria.

Fourth, unlike previous years, all of the morning music ensemble performance groups are now full year programs, not half-year programs. As in the past, select band remains a full year program.

Fifth, we now have chamber music offered to all students in the band program on all instruments during the day. In recent years, chamber music was offered to flute and clarinet choirs or ensembles, which met as part of the morning music program. Last year, the combined enrollment for the flute and clarinet choirs was 22. This year, the modifications in the program have enabled all 325 students in the band program on all instruments to benefit from instruction in chamber music.

Sixth, we have also changed the music lesson schedule at the middle school so band students will be receiving music instruction every six school days instead of once every two weeks.

Lastly, while the letters in the newspaper have only focused on the band program, they have ignored the fact that because of the changes made this year and last, we have an exploding select chorus program that allows students who play an instrument to continue with chorus. This year, over 120 students applied for the select chorus program. We will now offer a second chorus in the morning music program, which will allow all students to participate.

In order to clarify an issue raised at the Oct. 20 board of education meeting, a distinction must be drawn between the extra-curricular morning music program and the curricular instrumental music classes. The total enrollment in the curricular band classes last year was 329. The current enrollment in curricular band classes now stands at 325. The small decrease can be directly attributed to the fact that music is no longer mandatory in eighth grade, as it was in previous years. With the changes in the middle school curriculum, eighth grade students now have a wide range of electives from which to choose in lieu of music. Students made decisions on electives last March long before decisions were reached regarding the transfer of music personnel. With regard to the extra-curricular morning music program, students registered for this in late September with the knowledge that the new middle school instrumental teachers would be directing these programs.

Enrollment figures in the morning music program for both years count the number of students participating in each ensemble. Some students participate in more than one ensemble and therefore are double counted. The total number of individual students (i.e. after eliminating the double counting) participating in the morning music program in May 2003 was 159, including the increase in select band from 65 in the fall to 98 in the spring (see paragraph 4).

There are currently 175 individual students participating in the program. The percentage of band students enrolled in the 2002-2003 morning music program was 48 percent. The percentage this year is 54 percent. The sources for the statistics used are the 2002-03 middle school club activities attendance logs and program rosters submitted by the previous and current middle school instrumental music teachers. All students included in the data for October 2003 are currently enrolled in band classes and/or have attended one or more meetings associated with the morning music program.

While the board of education has heard negative comments regarding the changes in the middle school band program from a vocal group of parents and some students, we have also heard many positive comments regarding the changes from many parents and students. We have a number of students who have either returned to the band program or have joined for the first time. We know of only one student who has dropped out.

We have two students who have volunteered to learn new instruments to improve the musical balance of many of the groups. The administration generally makes personnel placement decisions for a year, not for half a year or one grading period. Included in that category are transfers between schools of which there were 13 teacher transfers and one administrative transfer for this year. If the administration and board were to consider moving any teacher, which is not currently being contemplated, we would under no circumstances do so in the middle of a school year.

While the public has a voice in personnel matters in the form of the right to come to board meetings and speak or write to the newspaper, there is no public vote or referendum on personnel matters. New York State education law is very clear in leaving these matters in the hands of the administration and the board. The board is backing the administration on this reassignment, even after evaluating all the comments made in public, and we have no intention of overruling the superintendent.