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HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - About 25 people filled the folding chairs at the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District Board of Education Tuesday night to witness a unanimous vote that changed the director of the Absegami High School marching band.

Three people spoke publicly against the decision to remove Mike Fanelli from his longtime post, but several others said later they welcomed the move and that it was a long time coming.

Members of the Absegami Band Parents' Association handed Superintendent Adam Pfeffer a slim stack of letters and a 30-signature petition advocating for Fanelli, who is also a music teacher and director of the school's orchestra, to retain his position.

Pfeffer and board President John Houck declined to comment on the reasons for Fanelli's removal.

Joanne McCann, whose daughter is a senior, said she felt the administrators "stonewalled" the parents.

"I find not only as a taxpayer, but as a parent and a voter, I am very disappointed at this decision," she said.

Other people, including the family of 18-year-old Joseph Finkle, applauded the move.

"I wish it had happened sooner," said Finkle, who will start classes in the fall at the University of Rochester.

Finkle, a drummer, said repeated outbursts by Fanelli left him unwilling to continue pursuing music. They also made him and his peers feel uncomfortable and heavily contributed to 25 of them quitting over the course of their high school career, Finkle said, leaving 13 young musicians remaining in the Class of 2009 at graduation a few weeks ago.

"The culmination of the board meeting was (school officials) acting appropriately," said his father, Steve Finkle.

Fanelli was unreachable by phone and did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

Janice Rittenhouse, whose daughter belonged to the band before graduating in 2005, spoke on Fanelli's behalf.

"Mr. Fanelli and I have had our moments, believe me. I've been involved with this organization for nine years," she said. "But there's no one else I'd want running the band."

Board members voted unanimously to appoint James Glenn and Ben Fong as band directors with $10,750 and $7,870 stipends, respectively.

E-mail Emily Previti:

EPreviti@pressofac.com

6 comments:

• gamidad (1) posts 6:12 pm

  I for one am extremely disappointed in the school boards decision to not renew Mr. Fanelli's position as band director at Absegami. After 27 years of dedicated service, this is a terrible way to treat him. Mr. Finkle, I hope you are satisfied. And, I hope your parents are proud of the way they raised you - when life gets tough, whine about it. I guess its true that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. There are approximately 125 students in the marching band. What about their opionions on this matter? My daughter is entering her 3rd year with the band yet the first I heard of this was after the school board notified Mr. Fanelli of their decision not to renew his contract. Not once did anyone from the district ask me or anyone else I know if we ever had issues with Mr. Fanelli. My answer is no, and Mr. Fanelli has been a wonderful influence on my daughter. I remember the days when all teachers were tough. I remember the days when I participated in sports and other activities and didn't always get the best parts or the most playing time. That is life. Mr Finkle wasn't recognized as section leader. Big deal, move on. But no, he caused quite a stir last season with his buttons, "We're a section and Finkle is our leader." Instead of focusing on the season, Mr. Finkle caused friction among the band members. Well I feel terrible for Mr. Fanelli who has dedicated a large part of his life and in the end doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Why couldn't the school board just let him finish his last few years and retire with the joy of leading the band for many successful years as an award winning organization? The most award winning organization of any in both Absegami and Oakcrest. I am saddened with The Press of Atlantic City's decision to put a negative spin on this subject. What the paper should have done was write an article praising a good man and highlighted his many accomplishments.

• bandAlum (1) posts 4:37 pm

  I was in the marching band for all four years of high school and think it is very sad that they are losing a great band instructor. Mr. Fanelli was a very passionate man you cared very much for his students and how the band did. This was his life. I learned more lessons from that man and that band then any teacher in Absegami could ever teach me. I as well as many others have been in countless fights with the man but with out him we would have never of won as many competitions has we did. Mr. Fong is an incredible musician and great teacher. But Mr. Fanelli's fire is what got that band so many trophies.

• FriendsOfAMS (1) posts 3:53 pm

  "Remember the nines." - Friends of AMS

• respectfullyanonymous (0) posts 2:21 pm

  I am an Absegami graduate who's family was involved with the band program for 12 years because I was the youngest of several children who all went through the band program. I also have a few people extremely close to myself and my family who worked as part of the marching band staff and most of my family served in positions of leadership. I quit the band after a 12 year family legacy and 3 years in myself. I was a respectful, well-behaved member and held a good seat in my section --- not all the dissatisfied members were "punks." I quit because I saw the band for what it had become: very successfull, but full of hurt feelings, personal bias (always a female drum major, including Mr. Fanelli's own daughter? and more), and horrible fits of anger. I would like to say I greatly respect Mr. Fanelli's life's work and think he deserved a more respectful end to his time there. But it is refreshing to see the power handed over and divided. I think it will make for a more fair and enjoyable environment for all. Mr. Fong is a brilliant and very composed man and I remember many band members always wished he was our director -- he will do a fine job along side Mr. Glenn (who I do not know well enough to comment). This is only personal opinion, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to give some disgruntled parents another perspective!

• susabass (1) posts 11:24 am

  I support the Board's decision. In my dealings with Mr. Fanelli, I found him to be a very nasty man. The worst is that he was this way to the students and did not act in their best interests.

• janisrr (1) posts 7:51 am

  my comments were taken out of context. i also stated that the reason i've been a band parent alumni for four years and with the organization for about nine years is because of the kids and because of mike fanelli. he is the absegami band and its a disgrace what the school board has done. there is a history of animosity FROM the school board toward the absegami band, mr. fanelli and the band parents. people disagree, but if you are an adult, you get over it and move on for the good of the program and the kids. any parent who pouts and wants a band director fired after over 25 years of tremendous success for reasons such as perhaps their child not being a section leader or maybe because their child was disciplined, well a program like this with the success its had over the last many, many years needs discipline. kids who are punks and who don't play by the rules need to be disciplined. they ruin the band program for the other members who do work hard and who want to succeed. it was because of mike fanelli that the absegami band program has succeeded for so long. but pfeffer and the school board can rest easy now. they have ruined one of the most wonderful organizations in the entire greater egg harbor regional school district.

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