“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education.”
-Plato
On March 31, 2025, the Spring Grove Area School District School Board held a Budget and Finance Committee meeting. Presented at this meeting were potential attritional strategies recommended to help offset budget concerns for the 2025-2026 school year. On this plan were the resignations of several staff members, as well as one of Spring Grove’s beloved music directors, Kyle Showalter. Pros and cons were listed beside each position, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of filling/not filling each. Beside Mr. Showalter’s position was the statement, “Strongly recommend NOT filling this position currently.” A listed benefit of not filling this position was, “Minimal impact to students in Music Education”, implying that not filling a music director position would hardly impact students. The students in Spring Grove’s music program beg to differ.
For some fundamentals, I’ve gathered a few statistics that were presented at the most recent Music Boosters meeting, which took place on Monday, April 7. To start, Spring Grove is currently ranked 12/15 in District 7 based upon the student-to-music teacher ratio across all of our schools. The current ratio is 8 music teachers for 493 music students. If Mr. Showalter’s position is not filled, which is heavily recommended, this would reduce our music staff to 7 teachers. If this were to happen, we would drop to dead last in District 7 (15/15), with a ratio of 7 teachers for 563 music students for the 2025-2026 school year. This statistic is not a good look for our school. Not only would our place drop, but we would be stretching our music directors, who already do so much, even thinner. Most would have to be traveling between 1 or more schools in Spring Grove, reducing their time teaching at the High School. Taking this into account, sectionals, which are student’s one-on-one time with a teacher to practice their music solely with their section, would be eliminated. This would most likely decrease the quality of the performances. Not only would our teachers not be around for sectionals, but they won’t be around nearly as much to take general questions from students. This can potentially reduce relationships between students and their music teachers, which is one of the benefits of having a proper student-to-music director ratio. That is one of the many, many ways our students will be impacted by this decision. Not only would not filling this position reduce teacher’s time spent with their students, but the additional workload would reduce time spent with their families.
Another concern discussed during the Music Boosters meeting were the implications of this decision. Removing a music director position could lead to a loss of opportunities for students. Less teachers to move around schools most likely means programs will be cut. For the past 13 years, Spring Grove has had the honor of being named “Best Communities for Music Education”. This award is based on a point system. With potential cut programs, Spring Grove could lose the ability to qualify for and obtain this award, which would be a huge loss for our school.
As previously mentioned, because of this potential change, directors would be spending less time solely at the high school. This could lead to multiple programs being cut, only because there is not enough time in director’s schedules to fit it all. The pit that is used in our spring musicals—and is another wonderful opportunity to showcase Spring Grove High School’s finest musicians—could be something that would cease to exist in the future if Mr. Showalter’s position is not filled, since our pit director would also be commuting constantly between schools. This is just one of many examples of how not filling this position would impact the entire music department.
Studies show that the impact music education has on students is significant. An article by meritmusic.org says that music students often have higher grades, and are 24% more likely to graduate. The article also states that, on average, music students are about 1 year ahead of their fellow students academically. Not only does music education impact academic performance, but it’s also a way for students to express themselves. Being included in a music program can assist students in increasing social skills, building relationships, and understanding teamwork and collaboration. This is an incredibly important foundation that should be instilled from a young age, yet Spring Grove is the only district in York county that does not have any sort of Kindergarten music program.
A few Spring Grove students, as well as alumni, have given quotes on how the music department/music education has impacted their lives:
Raegan Shrader (Junior): “I don’t know where I would be without music. Having all of the opportunities to grow and learn in so many different ways have been incredible, and I wouldn’t be where I am now without our amazing music teachers and music program that I’m forever grateful for. I can’t even imagine a world where I wasn’t involved in music because it’s truly one of my favorite things to do, and something I will be doing for the rest of my life.”
Amelia Messinger (Sophomore): “I have been in music ensembles for about 4 years and plan to go into music education. Before I joined music, I was a student who struggled with mental health and school. The music department gave me a group of friends and family. My directors and the music department have developed me as a person and I can’t imagine a life without them and this music department. By not filling the spot of our resigning band director, it worries me what will happen to our music department as students in music education.”
Gavin Minetola (Junior): “Being introduced to music in early grades and working with amazing teachers as I went up the grades changed my life by giving me something I could be a part of. That is something I thought would never happen for me, but music changed that perspective of mine. Everyone should have something they can be a part of, but I never would have found and kept mine without music in our schools and the relationships with teachers and music staff. So for the kids in the future who may be facing the same thing I did, I say let’s not take away their opportunity to find something they can be a part of. Let’s keep the opportunity, so their lives can be changed by music, just as mine was.”
Tessa Hare (Junior): “If it weren’t for the music department, I wouldn’t have made 90% of my friends. I was VERY shy in middle school, but when I began doing theater and taking music classes, I started to come out of my shell. I’ve met so many wonderful people through music. From supporting me on my achievements, to when I lost a parent, they were always there for me. If it weren’t for the music department, I don’t know where I would be now. I hope music continues to have a strong part in our school, so kids can find support and a place where they belong.”
Ella Tyson (Junior): “I’ve been involved in the music program since third grade, and I can confidently say that I have always felt so greatly supported by my directors and my peers within the program. Each and every one of the directors has helped in guiding me to become the best musician that I can be, and I feel so blessed knowing that they are all genuinely rooting for me and my success. Because of how well the music program is run, it feels like a family and it’s become a safe space for me throughout the years, while also connecting me with so many amazing people and opportunities.“
Ashlyn Tyson (Alumni): “Music education has impacted me because it has grown my love and passion for music, as well as has given me some of my closest friends. It also played a role in why I decided to go to college for music therapy! I want to help people to achieve their health-related goals through music because I have experienced how powerful and impactful music is. Music education not only introduces students to the beauty and community-building nature of music, but also stimulates every area of the brain and strengthens overall brain functioning. Because of these reasons, music education has been very important in my life and I believe it is important for everyone to have.”
Jorge Caraballo (Alumni): “Hello my name is Jorge Caraballo. And here’s a testimony to how the music department and music in general saved my life! Starting highschool I didn’t know what to expect or look forward too other than modern band class cause I knew I was gonna learn more about what I love doing! And Mr. Brenner immediately saw me and saw potential, and he invested in that potential. He gave me tips he gained relationship with me and he also got me to all nationals modern band ensemble and all Easterns modern band ensemble and district 7 modern band ensemble three times consecutively! Now had he not invested in the potential he saw in me I wouldn’t be pursuing music today and I wouldn’t have helped the many people in my life pursue music that wanted too! And music education brought an escape for me where when everything was clashing together all at once I had something to run too to help me gain focus and today I’m leading worship at my church! I have three songs Im working on, I have three kids I teach guitar lessons too and I taught a bunch of Brazilian children how to read sheet music and play the piano! Because of those teachers in the music department pursuing me, they’ve sparked me to continue to pursue my dream and it has gotten me further in life and I don’t know where I would be without someone like Mr. Brenner and Mr. Showalter and Mrs. Kirkpatrick who fed into this dream of mine that I’m slowly turning into a reality and I’m only growing from here! So thank you to every music department teacher that has brought me to this point and I will forever be grateful for your investments!!”
If you wish to help support the music department and have your voice heard, please consider attending either the next Budget and Finance Committee meeting, which will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025 at the Educational Services Center on 100 East College Ave, or the next School Board Meeting, which will be held on Monday, April 28 at Paradise Elementary School. This topic will be discussed at both of these meetings! Public comment will not be permitted at the Budget and Finance meeting, but it will be at the School Board meeting. As you can see, this is an incredibly important cause to many students, teachers, and parents. Your voice and support matters!
Visit https://meritmusic.org/benefits-music-education/ for more info
