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Jim Fox, a sixth-grader at A.I. Root Middle School in Medina who plays trombone in the school's bands, talks about his teacher, Gary Ciulla. The Medina Board of Education is being asked to consider rehiring the 35-year veteran, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
(Ann Norman, Sun News)
MEDINA, Ohio - Time marches on, even for legendary high school band directors.
Gary Ciulla, who has taught instrumental music and led Medina High School's marching and symphonic bands for the last 35 years, will be stepping down - some say reluctantly - at the end of this school year.
The Board of Education accepted his resignation in March, a move that will protect the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio pension and benefits Ciulla has earned during his tenure.
Since then, parents of band students have clamored for the school board to rehire Ciulla for the coming school year and to preserve the teaching-directing duo of Ciulla and assistant bands director Jason Locher.
To do so, the school board would have to undertake a lengthy process required by state law to reinstate Ciulla to his current positions as instrumental music teacher at the high school and A.I. Root Middle School and head director of the high school's two largest bands.
The retire-rehire process - often called "double dipping" because teachers are able to draw their pensions while earning a paycheck - is controversial.
About 50 parents and students showed up at last night's school board meeting. Superintendent David Knight was quick to address the issue early in the agenda.
"First of all, Gary Ciulla has resigned and plans to retire. He has been a wonderful key component in our music program," Knight said.
Ciulla's retirement means there is an opening for his teaching position, one of two for instrumental band in the school district. Locher currently holds the other position.
Locher will be offered the supplemental contract to be the head director of the marching and symphonic bands, Knight said.
"Jason has been Gary's right-hand man and has been waiting in the wings for his opportunity to take the lead," Knight said.
He said the district has received quite a few applicants for Ciulla's teaching position. Knight noted that Ciulla could apply for the job and the board would consider him - but it would be complicated.
Historically, the district has not rehired employees to their identical former jobs after they retire because of state law governing the process, which is lengthy and requires public hearings.
Knight did note that he himself returned to work as a principal after his retirement as principal at Sidney Fenn Elementary School, but as a substitute with no benefits. His current position as superintendent doesn't fall under the retire-rehire parameters because it is a different job than what he previously held.
He said retire-rehire is a 60-day process - which in this case would mean that Ciulla would miss the beginning of the marching band's summer rehearsals - and reinstatement is only permitted on a one-year contract that would have to be renewed.
The board would also want to hire Ciulla back at a beginning teacher's salary, not at his current pay level, Knight noted.
"We're always looking to save dollars. We want someone with experience, but we want to hire at a starting teacher's rate. So we search for candidates who can do that and fill this role," he said.
School board president Doug Adamczyk agreed.
"Sometimes there are younger people coming up who are worthy of these positions," he said.
He also said that rehiring Ciulla to work under Locher's leadership could cause issues.
"When you flip flop positions, people do wonder, who do I go to if there's an issue? These are some of the items we have to wrestle with," Adamczyk said.
Most of the parents and students at the meeting want to see Ciulla return to his current job. Ciulla has not publicly stated that he is looking to return and was not present at the meeting.
Under Ciulla's leadership, the band has amassed enough honors, awards and trophies to fill a stage. Performances by the 287-member marching band are a highlight of home football games.
Band parent Lisa Jenkinson asked the board to do what is best for the band program. She described the current partnership of Ciulla and Locher as a well-oiled machine.
"The result is flawless," she said. "The kids deserve that, and so do our directors."
Jim Fox, a sixth-grader at Root who plays the trombone, talked about Ciulla's influence on him as a musician and a person.
"Sometimes when I think about it, I can't believe how much we've learned from him. Our band class is much more than just learning to play our instrument," Jim said.
"When (Ciulla) teaches, he really puts his heart into it. We all need him. We all trust him," he said.
Jim's mother, Becki Fox, said she doesn't believe a new teacher would be able to walk in and command the respect and affection Ciulla has earned.
Freshman band member Katie Shires said Ciulla has taught her and her bandmates about responsibility, respect and hard work.
"Hearing Mr. Ciulla's retirement announcement was a dagger in the gut, because nobody knew it was coming," Katie said.
But not all parents are jumping on the retire-rehire bandwagon.
Janice Krusoczky, who has been a band parent for the last nine years and has a son who will be coming back for his senior season in the fall, said approving Ciulla's reinstatement could be a precedent the board might not want to set.
Making an exception for Ciulla wouldn't be fair to other long-time employees in a similar position, she said, whether they be cafeteria workers or history teachers.
"If you do it for one, you need to do it for everyone with 35 years," she said.
"Rules were meant to be followed. You didn't do this to Mr. Ciulla. It's not your fault," she told school board members.
She said Ciulla has had a great 35-year run, and that the band will be in good hands with Locher to carry on its tradition of success and excellence.
"They're both perfectly capable. They are great guys," Krusoczky said.
She suggested that perhaps Ciulla could come back as a consultant to the bands or to offer supplemental instruction.
Adamczyk was quick to reassure the audience that whatever happens, the students and the bands will be the top priority.
"We are proud of the band. We do have tradition, we do have something we're all very proud of," he said.