Administration at Albert Lea Area Schools want to make clear that it’s unfortunate when teachers have to be cut, and they’re making efforts to not cut music programs.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re focusing all the talk on one teacher,” Superintendent Mike Funk said. “There are a lot of teachers being cut because of this situation.”

Funk said the district is only doing what it has to do because of budget constraints set by the state of Minnesota. He said he feels bad for all the teachers who may be cut, and that they weren’t trying to single anyone out.

Recently some students and their parents at Albert Lea High School have been protesting the possible loss of teacher Peter Gepson, the high school’s band director. They argue that the band program has had too much turnover in the last five years because of cuts, and they said how pleased they were with Gepson’s teaching skills.

Because of the school realignment, there are fewer grades in the elementary schools and music teachers will no longer have to travel from Southwest Middle School to the elementaries to give lessons. This results in needing to cut a full-time position and Gepson has the least seniority.

“We’re not cutting any programs in the Albert Lea area school district,” Funk said. “This is a personnel cut related to teacher tenure.”

Director of Human Resources Jim Quiram said students at Southwest will actually spend more time in music classes because the music instructors won’t have to travel to get to them.

“There is no cut in any band, choir or orchestra programs,” Quiram said.

Albert Lea High School Principal Al Root said staff reductions are unfortunate because of budget constraints, but he said the district is just trying to do what’s best for students.

“I have confidence that those with certification can do the job as well,” Root said.

Southwest Principal Jean Jordan said she’s excited that sixth- and seventh-graders next year will get much more time per week in large-group music classes instead of the 30 minutes per week of individual lessons they had previously.

“I have a lot of faith in both the orchestra and band directors,” Jordan said. “We have good communication.”