Steve Foley
The Petoskey News-Review

Petoskey, Michigan, USA - Public Schools of Petoskey Superintendent Chris Parker addressed the situation regarding three band instructors and an assistant principal who are all currently on paid leave during Thursday's board of education meeting.

Last month, Petoskey High School band directors Tom Harder, Patrick Ryan and Duane Willson were placed on administrative leave. News of their suspension was announced in an email to teachers, students and band parents by the school district.

In that email, Parker indicated parents "may be aware" Harder, Ryan and Willson had not been in school and that their absences would "continue indefinitely."

...."This is a tough time, you didn't choose this for you, I didn't choose this for you and yet here we are," Parker said. "I'd like to address those concerns to the extent now that I legally can. First of all, be assured the band, including the steel drum band, will continue. Qualified substitutes have been and will continue to lead the music programs and I thank them for their assistance.

"Although changing personnel in the middle of the year is never seamless, instruction and performances will continue as planned."

Parker said the last thing he, administrators or the board of education wants to do is disrupt popular and successful programs such as the Petoskey band.

"Nevertheless, we take our responsibilities to safeguard and nurture and develop children entrusted to us here seriously," Parker said. "Whenever concerning information is brought to the attention of school officials, we immediately open an investigation, we follow the law and we follow the due process procedures to ensure that we act based on accurate information and with due regard to all involved.

....Haley Dixon, a Petoskey High School senior and head drum major for the Petoskey High School marching band who is also part of the steel drum band, said she was utterly disappointed with how the situation regarding the band instructors has been handled.

"I think there needs to be a decision made sooner than later because many students have been saying, especially middle schoolers too, that they want their band directors back and they are on the verge of deciding to quit, which is not where we want the program to go.

"Petoskey's band reputation is huge and we want that program to keep building and right now it's depleting because of what the board is doing," Dixon added. "It's really disappointing because we want answers and we aren't getting any."

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