Music is growing.
Staffing is shrinking.
The district is eliminating a part-time music teaching position for next year. Their own internal records — obtained through a Right-to-Know request — show every music course growing, teachers scheduled with no room to absorb additional work, and a middle school band program that has nearly tripled in two years.
See the data ↓A half-time music position is being cut.
For 2026–27, the district is not renewing Ms. Petrilak's 0.5 Long-Term Substitute music position. The administration says it was always "temporary." But the district's own data shows the work she does is anything but temporary, and there is nobody else available to do it.
Ms. Sachaczenski is over capacity
Manavon's primary general music teacher carries 33 classes per cycle which is 110% of the district's own 30-class threshold. So, Ms. Petrilak covers this overflow, allowing for some more balance. Without her, that overflow has nowhere to go.
Hares Hill loses a day of music
General music coverage at Hares Hill drops from 6 to 5 days per cycle, which falls below the 30-class standard the district itself set. It's the only elementary school losing coverage. They are cutting even though their own data projects record-breaking enrollment growth and shows that current faculty are already operating above capacity
Unscheduled days for Mrs. Moll & Ms. Dengler
Two instrumental teachers are assigned to buildings every day of the 6-day cycle. There is no flex day, no buffer, or room to absorb any additional responsibilities.
MS band numbers nearly tripled in 2 years
Middle school band went from 34 students to 102 in two years (2025-2026). Mr. Langdon, who is the only teacher covering both Manavon band and PAMS band, is being asked to also absorb Ms. Petrilak’s general music overflow.
Every music course is growing. Not one is declining.
These are actual student course requests from the PAHS Scheduling Analysis presented to cabinet on April 27, 2026. Not projections — requests already submitted.
For context: The same cabinet presentation notes that AP French will not run for the second straight year "due to staffing limitations." The district already knows what happens when teaching capacity gets too thin — courses students want disappear. That precedent is directly relevant to music.
A middle school program that nearly tripled and keeps growing.
These figures come from district enrollment records. 2024–25 and 2025–26 are actual registration. 2026–27 reflects course requests already submitted by students.
Mr. Langdon is the only band teacher for PAMS. He currently covers it 3 days per cycle. At 102 students across 3 days, that's 34 students per day which is already approaching the district's 35–45 threshold. If growth continues like predicted, he'll need more days at PAMS. But, those days could only come from Manavon.
Where the work goes — and where it can't.
Every instrumental music teacher shares time across multiple buildings. Hover over each day to see the assignment. The system has no slack.
PAMS band at 102 students and growing. Adaptive Specials plan adds Manavon general music overflow to his load.
Covers 3 buildings, ~165 orchestra students.
Try to cover the classes yourself.
There are 10 overflow general-music classes that need a teacher. Petrilak's long-term position currently covers all of them. Cut the position, then try to hand those classes to the remaining staff — using only the open days they actually have.
All 10 classes covered. The long-term position absorbs the general-music overflow, and no other teacher is pushed past a full schedule.
Supporting Documents
All district schedules, enrollment projections, and budget documents are available in the shared folder below.
When staffing gets too thin, courses disappear.
This isn't a hypothetical. The district's own internal presentation acknowledges that staffing limitations have already eliminated a course that students wanted. The past 2 years, students requested AP French but It won't run due to staff limitations. The same dynamic applies to music — when teacher capacity tightens beyond what the schedule can absorb, students lose access to instruction. The data shows music heading in that direction at every level.
Make the 0.5 LTS music position permanent.
Not expansion. The district's own data shows growing demand, overloaded schedules, and a staffing model with no margin. This position fills documented gaps that no one else in the current model can cover.