Dozens of parents and students from Parras Middle School and Jefferson Elementary packed the Redondo Beach Unified School District Board of Education meeting Tuesday night to protest the allegedly forced resignation of band teacher Scott Sutherland.
According to parents, Sutherland, the schools’ band teacher, was forced to resign in March but wasn’t allowed to tell parents or students until school was out in June.
“He told me about his leaving while we were walking back to the band room,” said parent Rachez Miller. “He told me it was because of a disagreement with the principal. I asked him, ‘Do you want to come back?’ and he said, ‘Yes.’”
According to parents, the disagreement started in December when Sutherland learned a band shell he requested for a Christmas concert at the high school wouldn’t be erected in time for the show. He allegedly sent a “strongly written email” to Principal Lars Nygren and things spiraled from there. Sutherland eventually apologized for the outburst and thought the issue had passed. Later in the year he reportedly received a low score on an evaluation and was asked to either resign or be eliminated immediately.
“Even though it wasn’t the best way to handle it, he did make an effort to make up for it,” said 9th grader Trina Miller.
District officials, in accordance with state law, are unable to comment on any personnel issues. Sutherland declined comment on the events leading up to his resignation because he still hopes to work with the district, but said that parents speaking on his behalf had the story correct.
“I feel bad for him especially since he had to deal with knowing it was his last time with us [since March] and he couldn’t tell us,” said 8th grader Katelin Harris. “He still put his best effort into making us sound good and didn’t hold back.” The Jazz band, under Sutherland’s direction, recently won a gold medal at the Forum Music Festival.
After learning about Sutherland’s cut from the district, parents and students took up arms through email and Facebook in an effort to reinstate him.
“He was fighting for excellence,” said Rachez Miller. “If he was that passionate about the shell, that’s the kind of teacher we want for our students. He really cares about how they sound.”
Before the meeting, over 20 students gathered outside of the district building to play their instruments and hold signs in support of Sutherland. In a post on the Parras Middle School Band Facebook page, students spread the word about the meeting and asked others to join them for the protest.
Outside the district building on Tuesday, “Save our Sutherland” was written on a sign in bold yellow and blue and taped on the wall behind the students. Another sign read, “Word: Scott Sutherland. Part of Speech: Noun. Definition: The best band teacher Parras Middle School will ever have. Sentence: Scott Sutherland will be reinstated to his former position as the Band Teacher of Jefferson Elementary and Parras Middle School for the 2012-2013 school year.”
Before the meeting, board members had the opportunity to thoroughly read the letters submitted by parents and students.
One email from 7th grader Carly Stock said, “When I found out Mr. Sutherland had been forced by the school district to resign, my friends and I broke into tears and became extremely upset at this news… Why are you keeping the mediocre teachers and getting rid of the best the school has to offer? Mr. Sutherland is an inspiration to all and is not the one who should be forced to leave. I beg you to please bring my band teacher back.”
Because of the outcry from parents and teachers, the board was prepared for the numbers that showed up both before and during the meeting. The board room overflowed as 87 people attended the meeting.
“I loved the fact that the students showed up,” said School Board President, Anita Avrick. “They were respectful and we really appreciate it. We read every single email; and there were tons of them.”
“We just want to be heard,” said Miller. “We learned that we can stand up for what we believe in and that you can go up to the higher people and have a discussion.”
“We also learned how to fight respectfully,” said Katelin Harris. “Sending hate mail would only get him in more trouble.”
During the meeting, more than a dozen students came to the podium to voice their concern. Many asked for Sutherland to be rehired and the matter forgotten.
“I just wanted to let you all know I consider myself the luckiest kid in school to have Mr. Sutherland as my teacher,” one student said.
“Mr. Sutherland has inspired us all to be a better person and musician, he’s the best teacher I’ve ever had,” said another.
During the speeches, Sutherland, wearing a Parras t-shirt and surrounded by friends, stood in the door to the room and listened to their statements.
“It was overwhelming to see that type of support,” Sutherland said after the meeting. “I was shocked and surprised; you don’t see that kind of thing everyday. It was definitely emotional.”
After the students and teachers spoke to the board, Board Vice President Laura Emdee read a statement from RBUSD.
“Thank you for coming out this evening, you were all positive and very professional [we] really appreciate that,” Emdee said on behalf of the board. “We’ve read every email and heard your statements. And we completely understand your frustrations. Personnel matters are confidential so we are not able to comment or address any specific concerns. We ask you to respect our judgment on this matter. Please know all personnel matters are given serious thought and consideration. Our most important goal is always providing a great education, which does include the band program. We are proud students came out to speak, want to encourage the valor and passion it took for you to come here. We would like to invite a band parent and student to be part of any future process we have. Together we can ensure the band program continues to be a strong one.”
After she finished, a murmur was heard around the room. “What about the motion?” one parent asked. “Aren’t they going to discuss it?” said another woman.
People slowly filed out after no motion was heard and the next agenda item was opened for discussion. While leaving, many parents and students gave Sutherland a pat of support or a hug outside the boardroom.
“We looked at all of the paperwork and we made our decision,” said Avrick during an interview Wednesday. “It wasn’t easy but it was the best decision for the district. We didn’t take it lightly.”
The band director position will be open for applications and – as the district’s statement indicated – a parent and a student will be included in the interviewing process.
Sutherland still hopes the board is open for further discussion and he could potentially reapply and be rehired in his old position. “But it sounded pretty finite to me,” said Sutherland. “I do still want to work with these people and I’m willing to continue [working at Parras] for the good of the students.”
“For me, any employee decision just kills me,” said Avrick. “But we do what we have to do.”
