Henry Sibley Choir Director Can Stay at High School

Henry Sibley choir advocates were given a reason to croon Monday night when Aaron Kapaun was cleared to stay on as the full-time choir director at the high school for next year.

The District 197 School Board approved a list of partial unrequested leave of absences provide by the Human Resources Department that included only half of the original faculty members initally facing a subsequent reduction in hours.

"Partial unrequested leave of absence" is the term used when a faculty member must take a reduced position resulting in fewer hours than their contract dictates.

In budget maneuvering earlier this spring, Kapaun was targeted for a reduction of hours and a move to , a drastic change from the high school program that many credit him for rebuilding, and the teenage students that seek out his classroom.

Students, alumni and parents have been of keeping Kapaun at his position leading the high school choir program. A and lengthy public comments at board meetings targeted any change to his assignment within the district.

It’s mixed news on the whole for the Sibley music program. While Kapaun and band teacher Laurie Booth were taken off of the list of faculty facing reductions, band director Clayton Browne’s reduction in hours was approved.

There will be a reduction of one band at the high school as a result, and reduced instructional hours at the middle school level as well, according to Sibley band booster Bruce Peters.

Speakers at the public comment meeting preceding the business meeting lamented what they perceive as a decline in orchestra and band within the district.

Two physical education teachers rounded out the three teachers that will not be working to the full entitlement of their contracts next year.

Human Resources Director MaryAnn Thomas said the money to keep Kapaun in his assignment, $25,000, came out of "Hot Spot" funds. This money is usually set aside for urgent staffing needs that arise after enrollment numbers are determined later in the summer.

The money will provide two positions at with an additional .16 time allotment to prevent a succession of bumping maneuvers, according to Thomas.