VHS band director resigns
Published 1:15 pm Wednesday, March 27, 2019
- Derrek Vaughn | The Valdosta Daily TimesMichael Thomas, who has been the Valdosta High School band director for 13 years, resigned Tuesday evening. He is scheduled to stay in the position until the end of the school year.
VALDOSTA — Valdosta High School Marchin’ Cats Band Director Michael Thomas has resigned from his position.
The resignation of the award-winning director was approved Tuesday evening by the Valdosta Board of Education, though he will not officially leave his position until summer, school officials said.
“The Valdosta Board of Education accepted the VHS band director’s resignation at the board meeting on March 26,” Valdosta City Schools said in an email statement. “He will continue to work through the end of his 12-month contract as VHS band director, which will be June 20, 2019.”
The school system could not comment further because it is a personnel issue.
Thomas has been with the VHS band for 13 years. He was awarded Georgia Music Educators Association Music Educator of the Year in 2017.
News broke about Thomas leaving his position before the March 13 city school board meeting, with the word being that Valdosta City Schools was not planning to renew his contract.
Students and their families, such as Dan Davis, a Valdosta business owner and father of a former band student, showed up to support Thomas.
“In the spirit of Winnersville, I request that the Board of Education reconsider and renew Mr. Thomas’ contract and not destroy a great, award-winning program,” Davis said.
Amelia Barnett, a current band student, even presented a petition of more than 100 signatures that supported keeping Thomas.
“On top of his accomplishments, he has smoothly run the VHS band program,” Barnett said. “You may not be able to see, but us students see it every day.”
Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.
