Music task force urges more consistent staffing, scheduling input and an FTE increase
March 10, 2026 | Rock Ridge Public Schools, School Boards, Minnesota
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Kelsey Norvitch, a member of the district music task force, presented a strategic plan to the Rock Ridge School Board on March 9, saying the group mapped a K–12 vision for music that calls for consistent curriculum, instrument maintenance, equitable scheduling across buildings and greater community involvement.
"We broke things out into what we felt a successful K‑12 music program would really look like," Norvitch said, describing a rubric the task force used to rate district offerings from kindergarten through senior year. The plan recommends giving teachers a stronger role in scheduling and converting one half‑time position to a full‑time FTE to sustain ensemble and classroom offerings.
Band director Kevin Schumal told the board staffing instability has hampered program development. "The number one thing that we need is consistency," he said, describing multiple years of turnover in sixth‑grade math and choir assignments and saying more stable FTE would allow teachers to focus on instruction and administrative program needs such as instrument maintenance and lesson scheduling.
Several classroom and elementary music teachers echoed those priorities. Julie Sandstead and Rita Forsman described a reduced staffing baseline (one teacher said positions fell from 5.6 to 4.5 FTE) and asked the board to enable scheduling input from music staff so classes and ensembles can build sequential skills. "If you give us that opportunity, we can go a long way with it," Forsman said, citing recent community events such as a well‑attended Madrigal dinner.
Board members asked staff to bring enrollment data and any cost estimates for the requested FTE change to a future meeting. Superintendent/staff said the district will provide enrollment numbers and consider whether class enrollment warrants converting the 0.5 position to a full time role.
The task force also outlined low‑cost measures (scheduling coordination, signage, and community outreach) and longer‑term investments (additional FTE and instrument upkeep) to expand access and rebuild program continuity across schools.
Next steps: task force and district staff will prepare enrollment metrics and budget implications for the board’s next meeting so trustees can weigh the recommended FTE change and scheduling adjustments.
"We broke things out into what we felt a successful K‑12 music program would really look like," Norvitch said, describing a rubric the task force used to rate district offerings from kindergarten through senior year. The plan recommends giving teachers a stronger role in scheduling and converting one half‑time position to a full‑time FTE to sustain ensemble and classroom offerings.
Band director Kevin Schumal told the board staffing instability has hampered program development. "The number one thing that we need is consistency," he said, describing multiple years of turnover in sixth‑grade math and choir assignments and saying more stable FTE would allow teachers to focus on instruction and administrative program needs such as instrument maintenance and lesson scheduling.
Several classroom and elementary music teachers echoed those priorities. Julie Sandstead and Rita Forsman described a reduced staffing baseline (one teacher said positions fell from 5.6 to 4.5 FTE) and asked the board to enable scheduling input from music staff so classes and ensembles can build sequential skills. "If you give us that opportunity, we can go a long way with it," Forsman said, citing recent community events such as a well‑attended Madrigal dinner.
Board members asked staff to bring enrollment data and any cost estimates for the requested FTE change to a future meeting. Superintendent/staff said the district will provide enrollment numbers and consider whether class enrollment warrants converting the 0.5 position to a full time role.
The task force also outlined low‑cost measures (scheduling coordination, signage, and community outreach) and longer‑term investments (additional FTE and instrument upkeep) to expand access and rebuild program continuity across schools.
Next steps: task force and district staff will prepare enrollment metrics and budget implications for the board’s next meeting so trustees can weigh the recommended FTE change and scheduling adjustments.
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