ADAMS TWP — Students and parents descended on the Mars School Board's public work session Tuesday to take issue with a decision not to replace retiring music teacher Mike Holupka.

Those who spoke said the decision would lead to the cutting of supplemental activities and the degradation of the music program.

Administrators said that no programs would be cut and concerns have not been raised by the remaining music teachers.

Many parents and students spoke about the impact the music program has had on the lives of district children and the importance of helping those programs to thrive.

Student and band member Alex Smith said he wasn't involved in any extracurricular activities as a younger student. But then, he said he began learning to play an instrument.

“By May, I was good enough to play in the marching band,” he said. “(This decision) is just going to hurt the kids. We're growing a lot and I think we're doing pretty good.”

Parents explained the effect the music program has had on their children's lives.

Superintendent Wes Shipley told them that programs would not be cut. He said Holupka's classes would be integrated into the remaining teachers' schedules. Holupka taught one period. He also taught lessons, helped with recordings, supported other teachers and provided a presence for the in-school-suspension room.

Parents said they were concerned that if the remaining teachers' schedules increased during the day, they would stop leading supplemental activities. Many cited board member Christine Valenta's assertion that it was a teacher's choice whether to lead supplemental activities.

Others said the remaining teachers' workloads were already heavy without having to absorb an additional period and other lessons during the week. They accused the board of trying to cut music and other programs to a bare minimum at the expense of growth and student opportunities.

Valenta told the audience that she had spoken with the remaining teachers, and that none of them voiced the same concerns.

“Mrs. Redman explained she doesn't need help,” Valenta said. “Mr. Rogers, I spoke to, and he has informed me both times that he loves his job.”

She said that music teachers know she has an open-door policy, and welcomes their input.

“I'm not seeing what you're seeing. I'm not hearing what you're hearing,” Valenta said. “I'm speaking directly with the people being impacted.”

She added that from her perspective, the school is growing and headed in a good direction.

Board President Dayle Ferguson said that for the board to add new classes and programs, there has to be a demand. She said teachers have not proposed new classes for the music program, but some recommendations were made regarding prerequisites. These will be implemented.

“It's student interest that drives the programming, and it's the staff and administrators,” Ferguson said. “We can't afford something, we can't grow it, if we don't have something to react to.”