Although both positions involve music note recognition, rhythm and tempo, that doesn't make the two jobs synonymous. To the untrained ear, music may seem the same whether it is vocal or instrumental, but the two aren't identical. Similarly, most people wouldn't expect the football coach to take over coaching the basketball team, because despite both being athletic endeavors they aren't the same skills. It seems unlikely that an athletic team would be canceled due to low participation, however that is one of the reasons that prompted the possible recommendation to combine the two music instructor positions into one. One music class, varsity men's choir, will be canceled due to low pre-enrollment, however some other music classes are expected to have significantly more students next year than this year.
Wheeler teaches jazz band, concert band, marching band and pep band.
Bothwell teaches freshman choir, concert choir, girls glee and the Cyctones. The possible change, to combine the two positions, is expected to come up at a future school board meeting. Too often, once a teaching position is gone it can't easily be reinstated. We can't afford to not have quality music education in our student's future. The music department will suffer if the school board agrees to combine the two music positions.