Anonymous
Post 09/05/2025 06:55     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How can parents help get better arts programs at the MS level? Sounds like a catch 22.

They won't hire a FT teacher because not enough enrollment but struggle to get enrollment because there's not a FT teacher with enough sections.



Swanson, Kenmore and Williamsburg don’t have this issue.


Kenmore is an arts and technology focus school so they will never lose their drama program.

Do Swanson and Williamsburg have a full time theatre teacher?


Yes
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2025 05:54     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How can parents help get better arts programs at the MS level? Sounds like a catch 22.

They won't hire a FT teacher because not enough enrollment but struggle to get enrollment because there's not a FT teacher with enough sections.



Swanson, Kenmore and Williamsburg don’t have this issue.


Kenmore is an arts and technology focus school so they will never lose their drama program.

Do Swanson and Williamsburg have a full time theatre teacher?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 21:54     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How can parents help get better arts programs at the MS level? Sounds like a catch 22.

They won't hire a FT teacher because not enough enrollment but struggle to get enrollment because there's not a FT teacher with enough sections.



Swanson, Kenmore and Williamsburg don’t have this issue.


Kenmore is an arts and technology focus school so they will never lose their drama program.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 20:35     Subject: Re:DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:What’s wrong is a disparity among the middle schools.

The arts should be offered at all these schools.


That’s not how school budgets work. This is an optional class not a core class. Optional/selection classes are based on enrollment.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 20:31     Subject: Re:DHMS Theater Program
What’s wrong is a disparity among the middle schools.

The arts should be offered at all these schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 20:22     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:How can parents help get better arts programs at the MS level? Sounds like a catch 22.

They won't hire a FT teacher because not enough enrollment but struggle to get enrollment because there's not a FT teacher with enough sections.



Swanson, Kenmore and Williamsburg don’t have this issue.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 20:21     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again, no teacher should be out for the whole year. That's not how leave works. There should be able to be a fall or spring production.


Says you?

What leave does APS offer that is a full school year?

Per the posted policy, FMLA is 12 weeks. Short term leave without pay is limited to 20 days per school year. Workers comp leave is limited to 7 days. Etc.

Longer leaves don't require APS to hold the position so it should be backfilled with a permanent hire.


How do you know the details of how long this teacher is out for?
APS leave policy is posted on the Internet. I wouldn't comment on a specific teacher, as that would be inappropriate. But no teacher should be out for a whole year without a permanent backfill being hired. That's how it is supposed to work. FMLA leaves and other short leaves, APS holds your spot with a sub. If you're gone a whole year, APS hires for the position and you have to find an open position when you return.


That was my point… that PP is not reading between the lines.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 20:18     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:How can parents help get better arts programs at the MS level? Sounds like a catch 22.

They won't hire a FT teacher because not enough enrollment but struggle to get enrollment because there's not a FT teacher with enough sections.


It would have to be at the expense of other classes/teachers. No lobbying will get them to add FTEs given the budget issues.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 17:38     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again, no teacher should be out for the whole year. That's not how leave works. There should be able to be a fall or spring production.


Says you?

What leave does APS offer that is a full school year?

Per the posted policy, FMLA is 12 weeks. Short term leave without pay is limited to 20 days per school year. Workers comp leave is limited to 7 days. Etc.

Longer leaves don't require APS to hold the position so it should be backfilled with a permanent hire.


How do you know the details of how long this teacher is out for?
APS leave policy is posted on the Internet. I wouldn't comment on a specific teacher, as that would be inappropriate. But no teacher should be out for a whole year without a permanent backfill being hired. That's how it is supposed to work. FMLA leaves and other short leaves, APS holds your spot with a sub. If you're gone a whole year, APS hires for the position and you have to find an open position when you return.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 17:08     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again, no teacher should be out for the whole year. That's not how leave works. There should be able to be a fall or spring production.


Says you?

What leave does APS offer that is a full school year?

Per the posted policy, FMLA is 12 weeks. Short term leave without pay is limited to 20 days per school year. Workers comp leave is limited to 7 days. Etc.

Longer leaves don't require APS to hold the position so it should be backfilled with a permanent hire.


Complaining about it here isn't going to help. Get other parents at your school involved if you want a theatre teacher at your school this year.


DP- but also note that the teacher was originally split due to low enrollment. There's nothing APS can do about that, for parents complaining about split time.


They can change the way the class is offered (give a full year option rather than just half year...my kid took choir instead of drama because of this) and also tie participating in the productions to taking drama. That is what Swanson is doing this year to get enrollment up. All the kids were taking choir (see fun trips and parties and all their friends in choir) and then getting all the lead spots in the spring musical. The teacher is now doing a fall play just for the drama kids and the lead roles in the spring will go to kids in drama.


Swanson has the largest enrollment of all choirs in MS. FWIW, you get a bonus if you get a certain amount of kids enrolled in your "elective" class. Its the least they can do for these positions where the teachers put in a ton of outside ours (competitions, performances at local sporting events, etc)


Yes, because Ms Walker is FANTASTIC and word spreads among the kids and parents. Why take wheel when the choir teacher is awesome and there is a fun trip in the spring and a Halloween party. And so much lower of a barrier than joining band, who get the same things.

Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 17:07     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
How can parents help get better arts programs at the MS level? Sounds like a catch 22.

They won't hire a FT teacher because not enough enrollment but struggle to get enrollment because there's not a FT teacher with enough sections.

Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 16:43     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again, no teacher should be out for the whole year. That's not how leave works. There should be able to be a fall or spring production.


Says you?

What leave does APS offer that is a full school year?

Per the posted policy, FMLA is 12 weeks. Short term leave without pay is limited to 20 days per school year. Workers comp leave is limited to 7 days. Etc.

Longer leaves don't require APS to hold the position so it should be backfilled with a permanent hire.


Complaining about it here isn't going to help. Get other parents at your school involved if you want a theatre teacher at your school this year.


DP- but also note that the teacher was originally split due to low enrollment. There's nothing APS can do about that, for parents complaining about split time.


They can change the way the class is offered (give a full year option rather than just half year...my kid took choir instead of drama because of this) and also tie participating in the productions to taking drama. That is what Swanson is doing this year to get enrollment up. All the kids were taking choir (see fun trips and parties and all their friends in choir) and then getting all the lead spots in the spring musical. The teacher is now doing a fall play just for the drama kids and the lead roles in the spring will go to kids in drama.


Swanson has the largest enrollment of all choirs in MS. FWIW, you get a bonus if you get a certain amount of kids enrolled in your "elective" class. Its the least they can do for these positions where the teachers put in a ton of outside ours (competitions, performances at local sporting events, etc)
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 16:30     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
I think it’s likely the position will go unfilled. Last year Gunston did not have a chorus teacher for the entire year, arts positions can be hard to fill and are lower priority
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 16:29     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again, no teacher should be out for the whole year. That's not how leave works. There should be able to be a fall or spring production.


Says you?

What leave does APS offer that is a full school year?

Per the posted policy, FMLA is 12 weeks. Short term leave without pay is limited to 20 days per school year. Workers comp leave is limited to 7 days. Etc.

Longer leaves don't require APS to hold the position so it should be backfilled with a permanent hire.


Complaining about it here isn't going to help. Get other parents at your school involved if you want a theatre teacher at your school this year.


DP- but also note that the teacher was originally split due to low enrollment. There's nothing APS can do about that, for parents complaining about split time.


They can change the way the class is offered (give a full year option rather than just half year...my kid took choir instead of drama because of this) and also tie participating in the productions to taking drama. That is what Swanson is doing this year to get enrollment up. All the kids were taking choir (see fun trips and parties and all their friends in choir) and then getting all the lead spots in the spring musical. The teacher is now doing a fall play just for the drama kids and the lead roles in the spring will go to kids in drama.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2025 16:25     Subject: DHMS Theater Program
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Again, no teacher should be out for the whole year. That's not how leave works. There should be able to be a fall or spring production.


Says you?

What leave does APS offer that is a full school year?

Per the posted policy, FMLA is 12 weeks. Short term leave without pay is limited to 20 days per school year. Workers comp leave is limited to 7 days. Etc.

Longer leaves don't require APS to hold the position so it should be backfilled with a permanent hire.


Complaining about it here isn't going to help. Get other parents at your school involved if you want a theatre teacher at your school this year.


DP- but also note that the teacher was originally split due to low enrollment. There's nothing APS can do about that, for parents complaining about split time.