Perkins school board hires assistant band director Wednesday

PERKINS TWP— Perkins Schools now has a full fleet of music educators. On Wednesday evening, Perkins board members hired Christopher Zanella as assistant band director for a one-year contract. He's a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University and will mostly serve as middle school band director.In May, board members hired Justin Parker as head band director at Perkins High School. Parker is a graduate of Miami University and a native of Dayton.In general, Parker and Zanella will collaborate with one another between the high school and middle school bands, superintendent Jodie Hausmann said.Parker's hire comes about a month after board members decided to not renew former band director Joshua Thomas' one year limited contract. District administrators haven't specified why they made that decision.Board members also agreed to purchase new curriculum for district students to use this fall totaling to $138,022. Students in grades six through twelve will receive new math curriculum, while students in grades kindergarten through second grade will use new literacy curriculum. New textbooks were also purchased for Biology I.Hausmann said with changing standards and suffering test scores in recent years, the district needed to buy curriculum which hasn't been possible because of dire district finances the last few years.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at caitlinnearhood@sanduskyregister.com. Follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood