Save the Collingswood Marching Band

Subject Matter:

We, the undersigned,  petition the Collingswood Board of Education to hire an Elementary Music Teacher in order to alleviate the pressure created by understaffing the current Music Department.  This would allow Lori Ludewig to resume her duties as Collingswood High School Marching Band Director and save the Collingswood High School Marching Band. 

Summary and Background:. 

Joe Lerch, longtime CHS Music Teacher and Band Director passed away in April, 2023. After Joe’s passing the CHS Arts Department teachers stepped up to cover his duties so that the students, who were understandably in shock/devastated, would not have to face classes with substitutes.  Everyone involved knew this was not a sustainable, long term plan. 

Lori Ludewig stepped in as the full time Band Director, in addition to her heavy teaching duties, which required her to travel daily to multiple schools throughout the district.  She served in this capacity through the end of the 2023 school year AND for the full 2023-2024 school year.  

In recognition of this herculean workload, multiple entities have repeatedly requested additional staffing.  

The Collingswood School District has refused such requests and when Lori Ludewig found out on Monday, July 15, 2024 that she would, once again, be tasked with the same heavy workload, she made the heart wrenching decision to resign as Band Director and turned in her resignation that same day.

Her resignation means, in practical terms, that there is currently no active High School Marching Band.

The Collingswood School District has posted a position for Band Director.. Given the highly specialized requirements of this position, it is unlikely to be filled.  Thus ending all plans for a Marching Band season.  

Even if someone can be found to fill this position, it is, at best, a temporary fix that is also not sustainable.  

The REAL solution is to address the heart of the issue and hire an additional Elementary Music Teacher.  

Doing so would have a twofold benefit that reaches ALL students:  
First, it would address the inappropriate grouping of students for music lessons, which, at some schools, but not others, results in excessively large lesson groups.  Delivering lessons in such a manner raises questions about equitable opportunities for elementary level musicians. Second, hiring an Elementary Music Teacher would reduce the burden on current staff and allow Lori Ludewig to return to the position of Band Director, thus saving the Marching Band Program.