Andy Craig has wanted to compartmentalize the high schools for years.  He wants the math/science, IB, and technology school at HHS, and the fine arts at SPHS.  He does not want to have the schools zoned, and feels that the students should attend the schools based on the programs offered.  I do not think this will work, and I told him so after an HPTC meeting several years ago because teens want to attend school with their friends from their neighborhoods.
 
But, like an accountant, he is looking at saving money by not duplicating programs at the high schools.
 
Since Suzy Baker is now serving on the Board of Directors at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, I am sure she will be a great resource for such an endeavor.  

Quote from my2cents on 04/22/10 at 7:26am:

 
LOL I know...his words and ideas, not mine!!!

this is most definitely a position created in order to move someone. has anyone else figured out who is going there? it surprised me, but when i stopped and thought about it, i had to admit it was fairly typical of how things are done.  
incredible.

Quote from ProudBerryMom on 04/22/10 at 7:15am:

 
So what is my daughter, who wants to try the IB program and also wants to explore her talent for choir, drama, and dance, to do?  This is such ridiculous thinking.  And, it has nothing to do with attending school with your friends (although I agree that is important to kids).  It is about becoming a well-rounded individual, and being able to explore all of your talents.
 
I personally think the fine arts could use some directing...I am tired of seeing fabulous choirs at Bumpus performing in the gym!

Quote from westhoovermom on 04/22/10 at 9:34pm:

 
Why do they have to perform in the gym?  Simmons performs at Green Valley Baptist, Hoover performs at Bluff Park Methodist (one of the most impressive choirs I've ever seen), even Bluff Park Elementary chorus performs their yearly program at Shades Crest Baptist Church.  Why can't Bumpus perform at one of the local churches?  
 
And how would a fine arts person affect that?  For the above mentioned schools, the chorus teacher arranges the venue I believe.  Do we need another new position to handle what the teacher is already doing?

Quote from ProudBerryMom on 04/22/10 at 7:15am:

 
Yes, this would make perfect sense to an accountant.  Why duplicate programs at the two schools?  Force students to choose between science and art at an early age, and create one-dimensional learners.  It is, after all, more cost-efficient.  Just like "alternative service delivery" -- the accountant's term for replacing teachers with computers.  Or "maximize building capacity to limit capital expenses" -- the accountant's term for cramming as many teachers and students into one building as you possibly can, even if that means converting closets to classrooms and having large numbers of "floating" teachers.

I don't think it's the Peter Principle; in fact almost the opposite, if it's who I think it is.  More like the loser of a turf battle very near the top of the heap.

Quote from HSCIN II on 04/23/10 at 10:20am:

 
oh please no!

I'm not sure who wins if I'm right about this.

HSCIN II, that's what I have been hearing.  I too am sick.  Now the question is, who's in charge of academics if we don't have a "Chief Academic Officer"?  
 
This seems to presume some level of reorganization at the CO.  That should tell us if there is a winner.

It is interesting that the tax extension vote and the post for the Fine Arts Director coincide.  I do not see the situation as doom and gloom like the rest of you.  I believe that someone will get this position as a reward.  Read the post again.  Talking about responsibility!  I am anxious to see how soon Hoover will break ground on the new Fine Arts Complex.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/04/hoover_school_board_picks_geor_1.html

Quote from hoover1990 on 04/29/10 at 3:43pm:

 
And yet each high school has 22 assistant football coaches?  Do they?  Still?  Will they be cut so no more fine arts positions will be cut?
Does this bother anyone else?

Cut backs here, cut backs there, rumors of more to come.   Anyone heard of any in Central Office?  Any?  Any chance Central Offfice salaries will be frozen for a year?  Just to show the "belt tightening" goes all the way around?

Don't kid yourself.  
 
The cuts will be at the school level - and the justification will be that the schools are where the majority of the money is spent.  That part may be factual, but the reality is that the excess is spent in central office and in those other "supportive" areas like maintenance, transportation, etc.  Those won't be cut.

SPHS/Berry 2, SMS 0
 
 
I hope I'm wrong....I'd love to be...

Quote from Hoovergal on 05/02/10 at 12:10am:

Oh, no...Baker is on the Board of Directors at the Alabama School of Fine Arts!!!
 
What I can't understand is *why*

Quote from Hoovergal on 05/03/10 at 9:47am:

I do not have a child @ SPHS yet, so I was wondering why the band program has been failing.  My child will not be a part of the band program, anyway....I'm just curious.

There are many rumors about the problems with the Spain Park Band and most of them go back to Mike Aycock.  The students at Spain Park who are interested in instrumental music deserve better and they have it now.  Jarnagin and Neugent will do a great job and the program should grow.
 
The young students at Simmons also deserve the best and they did not get it.  Why was Spain Park's problem moved to Simmons?  Why did Craig make this decision and why did the Board agree to it?

Well, this one is bad.  It looks like they are doing all they can for the SPHS band program and letting the Simmons band program twist in the wind.  Parents at Simmons are questioning if it is a deliberate effort to hurt the program.

He ought to look at the band rosters, and see all the AP and IB students.  They go together....

I can't believe they didn't just let Aycock go.  He has driven the SPHS band into the ground.
 
Neither of my kids were in the band.  I just know the stories they told about how the kids couldn't stand Aycock.
 
His Pearl Harbor theme this past year was embarrasing.

Quote from CrystalClear on 05/05/10 at 9:31pm:

 
Wow!  That is awesome!  Congrats to SMS bands!!!

Quote from Hoovergal on 05/06/10 at 3:04pm:

 
The band is so small, they probably couldn't see them on the field.

Mike Aycock has caused deep divisions within the arts department during his years there. He is critical of his colleagues and has a history of going to whatever top authority there is without regard for protocol or courtesy. During his first year, he was even vocally disdainful of school board members when he learned it was to his advantage to do so.

Quote from monte on 05/08/10 at 2:01pm:

 
The Simmons band parents just received an email last week from Brain Cain asking us to "trust his judgement".  I have done just that up until this decision.  After looking at vidoes from SP dating from 06 until now, it is obvious the program has suffered greatly.  The evidence is there in plain view for anyone to see.  If anyone on this forum has suggestions for our parents, please let me know via this forum, or send me a private message.  Yes, small bands can do very well, but there is clearly no reason for a band that was a decent sized in 07 and sounded very good to dwindle to a few.  Was this job even posted?  I thought jobs had to be posted for a certain period of time before interviews began.  Also, parent representatives were involved in the SP principal decision and if I'm not mistaken the HH band director decision.  How is this any different?  That alone makes anyone involved including central office and board members lose the trust of parents and question why Mr. Aycock was handed a highly successful program after the one he is leaving is suffering.

Quote from hibousage on 05/05/10 at 10:34pm:

 
Why should our students have to be the "test subjects" for this experiment?  We are not willing to take that risk without a fight.

The Birmingham News, Wednesday, May 5, 2010, Page 4H
 
Chief academic officer is new fine arts director
 
ByTIFFANY RAY
News staff writer
 
Ken Jarnagin will leave his post as chief academic officer of Hoover City Schools July 1 to take on a dual role as fine arts director for the school system and band director for Spain Park High School.
 
Fine arts director is a new district-level position in which Jarnagin will provide oversight of arts education at the elementary, middle and high school levels and serve as an advocate for arts teachers and programs, Jarnagin will be based at Spain Park.
 
Michael Aycock, Spain Parks' current band director, will transfer to Simmons Middle School as band director there.  And Brian Neugent, this year's band director at Simmons, will become an assistant band director for Berry Middle school and Spain Park High.  The assistant director position had been eliminated last year as part of the district's cost-cutting efforts, according to Mary Veal, human resources director for the school system.
 
When people think of Hoover City Schools, Veal said, "the first things that might pop into someone's mind are the athletic programs and how well-known and successful they've been." The arts programs, she said, are "almost like a hidden treasure."
 
A fine arts director will be able to address curriculum issues to ensure there is continuity from one grade level to the next and ensure students who want to pursue the arts beyond high school receive the support and direction they need, Veal said. "This person would assist in looking at the whole curriculum.
 
Jarnagin also will help develop an evaluation tool for fine arts instruction, Veal said.  Currently, there are at least 52 fine arts personnel districtwide, she said.
 
In his new role, Jarnagin said he will "come back to where I started."
 
A former band director at Bearden High School in Knoxvllle, Jarnagin said he initially set out to become a fine arts director, but "life took me in a different direction."
 
Jarnagin said he applied for the fine arts position" when it came open because "my heart has always been centered in the fine arts."
 
With his central office experience, Jarnagin said he can bring classroom experience to the job as well as a districtwide view of curriculum and instruction, and financial oversight.
 
Jarnagin was scheduled to meet with Aycock last week to begin planning the transition. He said this year's spring concert and awards banquet at Spain Park will continue as planned.
 
Veal said compensation details were still being worked out for the fine arts position.
 
Jarnigin's current salary as chief academic officer is $I32,000, she said. Superintendent Andy Craig said the salary for the fine arts position would probably fall in the $120,000 range.
 
Administrators said the fine arts director is a permanent position, but the additional role of band director may be temporary.
 
"Dr. Jarnagin will serve in that capacity until further notice," Veal said.
 
Craig said he most likely will fill the chief academic officer position, which was created in 2007.
 
E-MAIL tray@bhamnews.com
 

I'll bet he couldn't wait to get out of there.

I think 'watch' or ' keep an eye on things' may be better than 'watch out'.  While at SPHS the numbers in band went down drastically.  Hopefully over at Simmons, and with the middles school kids, things will be different.  It would be great for the parents to give him support, but keep an eye on things.  The worst thing that could happen would be for the adults involved to tell the students that he will be a bad band director and that they won't like him.  Then that will surely come true.

Simmons band parents and students were invited to a "meet and greet" this past Sunday in order to "meet" Mr. Aycock.  
Ken Jarnigan, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Cain and Harry McAffey were there to show their support of Mr. Aycock.  It seemed very much like a "show" and it didn't make the parents I spoke with any more confident this is a good move for our kids.  It is clear the board made this decision and everyone else has to "go along" because he has tenure and they don't want to fool with AEA.  Perhaps the SP band had 120 students at one time, BUT NOW there are around 50.  Something clearly happened to cause the demise and if it wasn't him, then why are they moving him?  
Simmons has 3 times the students he has been working with.  He's not used to that much work.  We were told that Mr. Mc Affey is going to adjunct and help with Simmons.  
It seemed as though they were trying too hard to make us comfortable with the "shaft" when clearly Mr. Aycock is getting a"gold mine".  
Now where is the best interest of the students considered in this decision?  It is "clearly" again, what is best for adults at the board to keep them out of a lawsuit.  Who gave this guy tenure anyway? How can we find that out?  Dr. J ,Mr. F , Mr. Mc. are super and Mr. Cain is a very good principal.   Our kids will survive, but they deserve MUCH better.  I hope he gets another job before this experiment begins and I would hope the board has sense enough to include a parent representative in the hiring process. The high school had over 50 applicants.  We should have more of a choice.  If the board is so convinced of Mr. Aycock's greatness, why did we not see any of them at the "meet and greet"?
Oh, I forgot. We are on the wrong side of the tracks.

Quote from CrystalClear on 05/17/10 at 6:48pm:

 
Mr. Broadway would have been the one to recommend Mr. Aycock for tenure.
 
Does anyone know if Mr. Aycock's salary will be reduced from his SPHS salary?

Check out Aycock's history.  He was a Birmingham City Schools employee before he went to Georgia for a few years and then was "discovered" to start the band program at Spain Park.  There was a reason he left Birmingham in the first place.  Another fine example of the "good old boy" network in place allowing "boys to be boys" before Alabama passed the laws requiring background checks.

The post said he went to Georgia, not that he taught in Georgia.

Quote from Hoovergal on 05/18/10 at 3:45pm:

 
Okay....Mr. Aycock never taught or "went" to Georgia for a few years.  Parents have a right to be concerned about their children in any matter.  But folks should also have some responsibility to speak the truth and that post is just completely WRONG.

Quote from hibousage on 05/17/10 at 8:43pm:

 
The 7th and 8th grade students didn't like him BECAUSE he tried to teach instead of allowing them to watch movies for an easy "A" as the previous director allowed.  The 6th graders loved him and are now seniors.  They sent pictures to him of his first beginning band group since he is leaving.  Most kids I know can spot a winner or loser when they see one.  We are protecting our kids as best we can, and are praying for the best.

Quote from hibousage on 05/17/10 at 8:43pm:

 
 
That was a nice little slap.  Thanks for that.

Quote from PurpleSocks on 05/19/10 at 6:05am:

 
I hope I can ease your worry about a few things.  Mr. Aycock is a highly ethical and moral man, a devoted husband and father, and deacon and leader in his church.  Fingerprinting and background checks were required by Hoover City Schools when he was hired.   I think he will work very hard to earn everyone's respect.  Please encourage your child to continue band and you should stay involved as a parent.  Band offers tremendous opportunities and I think you will be happy with the end results.

Quote from 86bamafan on 05/18/10 at 11:13pm:

You don't think working under Mr. Cain instead of BB will be different?  You don't think working with parents at Simmons will be different than working with SPHS parents?  Each school has it's own personality, and it can't help but be different.  Even working with the parents at HHS would be different than Simmons...I was talking about finding a good fit.  Didn't really mean for you to have to feel the need to duck.

Parents of Simmons Band received an email last Thursday from Mr. Cain that Mr. Aycock has accepted a position in another system and his position is now posted.  With the number of teachers vs. number of jobs, I'm sure there should be many applicants.  Mr. Cain will form a hiring committee of parents, teachers, and Dr. Jarnigan.  I commend Mr. Cain for including parents in this decision.  Many parents were praying for this situation and will continue to pray that the excellent band program will have an excellent leader.  The students deserve it.

Quote from monte on 05/08/10 at 2:01pm:

 
I am a band parent at the school where Aycock is now and I can't help but have concerns after reading this. The students constantly complain that he is changing everything within the program and something about him creeps me out. Does anyone know why he was let go from Spain Park? Thanks in advance!

Quote from Hoovergal on 04/04/11 at 8:57pm:

 
 
What all did he do at SPHS??