Music And Arts Coordinator Resigns
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The Garden City Board of Education held a short, special meeting before the March 3rd budget session to accept the resignation of James McCrann as district coordinator of music and the arts, effective June 30th.

McCrann plans to continue teaching in the district, but has expressed a desire to be relieved of his administrative duties, which took up a considerable amount of time and energy in his role as coordinator. School Board President Kenneth Monaghan acknowledged that McCrann was hesitant to accept the coordinator position when he learned that he would have to substantially cut back on the number of classes he taught. He has been coordinator since August, 2006.

"He loves working with the kids," explained Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen. "He loves the ability to direct the band, to be on the stage and do all of the things in preparation for that. That's really where he gets the greatest amount of enjoyment and professional reward. I think he has decided that that's really the thing he wants to do at the moment."

The district will begin advertising for the position in The New York Times this Sunday. Dr. Feirsen said since McCrann is still young, he can return to teaching now and become an administrator again later in his career. "We think he's done a great job as music and the arts coordinator and certainly will be missed," Dr. Feirsen said.