UPDATE: NO DECISION OVER FUTURE OF CM/HS BAND - School System's Employee Awards/Recognitions Will Be Announced

(07/16/2014)
Calhoun school systems annual Teacher of the Year and Service Person of the Year, and other special recognitions given to employees will not be made public until the 2014-15 school session starts, according to Superintendent Tim Woodward.

The awards and recognition event was held the first of June.

Woodward said, "The Teacher of the Year is for this upcoming school year. Information and biography will be available once that has been submitted to State Department prior to the start of school."

The future of the CM/HS Band is in doubt, with membership dropping to seven.

Band Director Michael McHenry told the Calhoun Board of Education in June that the band program should be put on hiatus for a year while efforts are made to rebuild.

Superintendent Woodward, regarding the band director's request, said "I have made no further decision on band program."

ORIGINAL STORY - Among many problems facing the Calhoun school system, the future of Calhoun Middle-High School's band program is in doubt, with the decline of members reportedly dropping to seven.

Band Director Michael McHenry told the Calhoun Board of Education in June that the band program should be put on hiatus for a year while efforts are made to rebuild.

McHenry did not respond to an e-mail request to comment on the problem.

Calhoun school officials did not respond to numerous public information requests regarding the band problem or what decisions could be made about the band and music program.

McHenry complained that the lack of interest has continued to cause other band members to drop, expressing concerns about the lack of replacement of antiquated band instruments.

Music program teacher Eileen Marsh has resigned, and her position will be posted for hire by the school system.

The school system has failed to respond to numerous requests regarding the selection of the annual Teacher and Service Employee of the Year at a ceremony and dinner held over a month ago.

Those honors and other recognitions issued by the Calhoun school system have generally been unavailable for the past several years, but after numerous requests they have sometimes been obtained months later.