Keep Our Band Marching

East's long-time band director and instrumental music teacher, Tim Zolyniak, retired at the end of the 2016-17 school year.   Over the years, Mr. Zolyniak worked diligently to keep the instrumental music program at East functioning at the highest level possible and to put a marching band on the field every year that the school and community could be proud of.

When I attended the academy design team meetings at East on July 18 & 19, one of the things I was anxious to learn was who the new band director was going to be.   Much to my disappointment and concern, I found out that not only is there no one currently in the position, but the job hasn't even been posted yet by the school district.

East principal, Mr. Vyrone Finney, has requested that the position be filled (along with several other teaching positions), but thus far has met with no success from the district's administration.

What this means is that:

• The band was unable to march in the recent Soap Box Derby parades (like they have every year in the past).
• Summer band camp, which would have started on Aug. 14, will unlikely take place because there is no one to run it.
• The first football game is Aug. 25, but it's highly unlikely that an unrehearsed, leaderless band will be able to appear.
• And if no band director is in place by Labor Day, the band will miss its annual appearance in the East Akron Labor Day parade.

In an attempt to find out what the status of this situation is, I e-mailed the Human Resources Dept. of the Akron Public Schools on July 18 and Board of Education member and East Cluster liaison, John Otterman, on July 21. I have yet to receive a reply from either party.

Just as many voices make a louder sound than one, perhaps if the administration heard from a few more of us, they would be motivated to act.   Let the administration know how much our band means to the school, alumni, and community of East High School.

Here are some key people to contact:

• Board of Ed. president, Patrick Bravo (e-mail)
• Board of Ed. member & East Cluster liaison,
  John Otterman (e-mail)
• Human Resources Dept. (e-mail)

East Cluster home page