Save the Arts organizer Nick Locke implored the Northport-East Northport Board of Education to retain two teacher positions slated to be excessed Monday night.
"To parents and students, a district is only as good as its staff," Locke said.
Locke and a coalition of high school students have rallied to promote enrollment in arts courses among their fellow students, going class to class in some cases.
"We found that some of the students were completely unaware that the courses existed," he added.
Superintendent Marylou McDermott said that the board may be able to retain one of the excessed positions should enough additional students enroll.
"At the secondary level, the decline in staff choices is due to choices students have made," McDermott said.
Declining enrollment in the district overall has contributed to the decision to excess 18 teachers throughout the district with 159 fewer students projected to attend at the elementary level and 100 fewer students at the secondary level.
The board said that the window to save a teacher through increased course enrollment will remain open until Sept. 2.
Later that night, the board voted to excess 13 teachers. Three positions, one at the elementary level and two in the social studies department, were restored prior to the meeting.
Board President Stephen Waldenberg emphasized that the vote doesn't signify the end. If enough students register for a class to warrant another teacher before Sept. 2, they can bring that teacher back.
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