SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Some parents and students in the Slippery Rock School District are wondering what is going on with the marching band director’s position.

The position that was held by Les Fine recently was opened by the board. Fine was hired by the district in 2005.

Four people spoke in favor of Fine at Monday’s school board meeting.

“Mr. Fine has done nothing but good things for these kids,” said Ruth Dorrier of Harrisville, president of the band boosters.

She said a rumored reason for the opening of the position involved a rumored lack of chaperones for a student trip to Chicago in March. However, she said that there were plenty of chaperones on the trip.

Diane Gieraltowski of Prospect said, as a former school board member, that she knows that the board will not rehire Fine since the position has been opened.

“I think it’s a shame,” Gieraltowski said.

She said no one knows if there was any kind of incident on that trip, and that she has heard Fine has had conflicts with district administration in the past. She also said that the teachers union is involved.

Doreen Self of Prospect said that the students were not out of the sight of chaperones on the Chicago trip. She also said that Fine has made a difference to the band members.

Samantha Bowman of Slippery Rock, who plays in the marching band, presented the board with a signed petition asking for Fine to be reinstated.

“Mr. Fine means a lot to us,” she said.

Superintendent Kathy Nogay, who retired Monday, said last week that the issue is a personnel matter, so it cannot be discussed publicly by the board.