Pelham School Board Fires PMHS Music Teacher

Despite the tearful pleas of almost a dozen students and parents at Monday's Board of Education meeting, members decided to fire a popular PMHS chorus teacher when they voted to let her contract expire after two years of probation.

Jennifer Tibbetts, "a teacher of excellence," did not appear in her own defense, though many of her supporters did. 

In addition to the eight students and several parents who showed up to support her, the board was presented with a petition signed by between 250 and 300 students, urging the board to renew her contract.

After  two executive adjournments, that were closed to the public, the members unanimously decided to decline to renew Tibbetts' contract.

Martha Stern, a concerned parent, said she felt "left out of the process."  

"It seems it was done deal, Stern said.

Joan Hardy O'Brien praised Tibbetts, citing a choral recital at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall, as well as upcoming invitations to sing at Carnegie Hall.

 "She's done a phenomenal job. I beg you to reconsider," O'Brien said to the board.

Eight students spoke as well, saying Tibbetts had driven them to perform beyond what they assumed were their abilities.  Several students said Tibbets treated chorus as an academic subject and never accepted anything less than their best. 

"We know you make your decisions with a lot of thought," remarked Louise Fusco, another Pelham parent.  "I hope that passion is something you'll consider."

After making the pleas, the students and parents waited briefly during a more than two-hour long presentation, followed by a private executive session. When the members emerged, it was nearly midnight.  

The board, led by President Robert Eicher, quickly adopted a motion to approve several leaves of absences and the retirement of longtime Hutchinson Elementary School teacher Rosemarie D'Ioro and extended the Probationary Period of Shelli Friedberg for a year.

The fifth item on the list, the one that contained the action  suggesting Tibbetts' firing, was separated from the others.

"Be it resolved," the item read, "that upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the probationary appointment of Jennifer Tibbetts in the tenure area of music is hereby terminated effective June 30, 2011."

The item passed unanimously.  At that point there were no parents or students present.

Immediately after the vote, Superintendent Dr. Dennis Lauro spoke briefly.

 "I want to reassure the public we're going to continue this program," he said.  "Marie Abehouse," an elementary school music teacher within the district, "will take over the entire program."

Board members  declined to discuss the reason for the firing. 

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