D-S Regional School Committee Reinstates Choral Program

The superintendent of the Dover-Sherborn School District announced at last Thursday’s Regional School Committee meeting that the much-loved choral program has been reinstated at the high school for the fall semester.

“Yes the chorus has been reinstated,” said Superintendent Valerie Spriggs in a phone interview. The choral program was cut this past winter during the budget process to add $12,000 to the bottom line.

At the school meeting where it was cut, committee member Richard Robinson voted against cutting the program and citizens spoke out against it at the Dover Town Meeting this spring.

She added that when they put the budget together all the expenses for the district were not set in stone. Spriggs said, “Workman’s compensation came in less than what we originally thought.” The claim was considerably less and the district was able to use that money to reinstate the choral program.

She noted, “the numbers [for chorus] have increased for enrollment. I was told 27 kids wanted to enroll.” Initially she said they were under the impression that the enrollment would be approximately ten.

“The amount that we needed for the choral [program] was not the total amount, there was more that came than was needed,” Spriggs said.

They are still in the process of finding someone to teach the class.

The old teacher, she said, “will not be able to return due to not having the credentials needed.” She was a long-term sub, explained Spriggs.

“Everybody would like to keep to her,” she said. Unfortunately, because she not licensed to teach that program, “the state has informed us that is not satisfactory.” The new teacher will need to be licensed in the area and their salary will be commensurate with experience.