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Band director puzzled about non-renewal
By Derek Hodges
With the decision by school officials not to renew the contract of Smoky Mountain High School band director Don Miller, the school has lost its seventh band director since 1999.
School board members voted May 25 not to renew Miller’s contract.
While officials are forbidden by law from discussing the reasons for such decisions outside closed session, Superintendent Sue Nations did say money was not an issue.
“Budget did not play a role in personnel decisions,” Nations said.
Miller was paid mostly out of state monies, but a small supplement came from Jackson County, said David Steinbicker, school system finance officer.
School officials have begun running classified advertisements for Miller’s position (see page 11C of this week’s Sylva Herald).
Miller – who recently retired after 30 years as a musician and band director in the U.S. Navy – said he was shocked by the decision that ended his time at Smoky Mountain after one year.
“It was really a surprise to me and to the kids. Some of them were really up-in-arms about it, and some of them just wailed, they were so upset,” he said.
No one has given Miller any reasons why he was not hired back, but SMHS Principal Alex Bell “alluded” to some reasons when he broke the news of the decision, Miller said.
Among those concerns where the quality and growth of the music program, and the safety of the students. Miller took issue with both.
“The quality of the music and the program as a whole has increased considerably since I took over,” Miller said. “This is the first time the marching band didn’t come in last in the last few years; this year we brought home 18 trophies. And the program has been growing, both at the high school and the elementary schools.”
Concerns about the safety of children in Miller’s care were raised after several members of the school’s Winterguard (band flag corps) were left behind after a band performance at a local elementary school. Miller pointed out the bus driver had a prior commitment and left before all the students were on board. Miller stayed behind with the students.
“At no point were those students unsupervised or in any danger,” Miller said.
He said that incident had been addressed previously by school officials, so it should not have played into the decision not to rehire him.
“If it was such a serious safety issue why didn’t they just fire me then?” Miller said. “I’m not going to say I was a perfect teacher. This was my first year as a teacher, so of course I made mistakes, but I’ve learned from those mistakes.”
Miller said he took his argument before members of the school board.
“I spoke and they listened. I think I was able to address some of the concerns that Mr. Bell had alluded to,” he said.
Still, Miller has heard nothing further from school officials.
If he were offered a renewal of his contract Miller said he would take it.
“I’d take it in a heartbeat. In fact, I’ve even reapplied for the job,” he said. “This is my home, and Smoky Mountain is my high school. I told everyone when I took this job that I was going to stay here.”
The fact that so many people have held the director’s baton at SMHS did weigh into Miller’s decision to take the job.
“I was a little concerned about it, but I wanted to put a stop to that so I could give the kids some stability in their education,” Miller said.
The high turnover rate in the position has some school officials concerned, too.
“There’s been some rocky roads there in that position,” Nations said. “We want to improve the selection process and the support we give to those teachers. That’s one thing that I would suggest to fix the problem.”
Though the decision was painful for Miller, he said he holds no ill will toward the school board.
“They did what they had to do, but I sure wanted to stay,” Miller said. “I want the community to know how appreciative I am of their outstanding support. I do appreciate their coming out to our concerts and the way they have acknowledged the band’s accomplishments.”
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