Jackson Local Schools names longtime educator David Gleason as new director of bands

Canton Repository

Jackson Local Schools Board of Education

Tuesday meeting

ACTION: Appointed David Gleason as the new director of bands.

DISCUSSION: The new director was hired after longtime band director Michele Monigold’s retirement was accepted in March.

Gleason will lead the Jackson High marching band, affectionately known as the Purple Army. Gleason will be stepping into his new role with a long history in the district, marking nearly three decades in music education.

Gleason will complete his 29th year of teaching this year, beginning at Jackson Local during the 1997-98 school year. Since then, he has been a pivotal part of the district’s music education, directing the eighth-grade band and leading the pep band during the winter sports seasons.

He has experience with multiple levels of education from Jackson Memorial Middle School to Jackson High.

"It is my honor to be named the next director of bands here at Jackson Local Schools,” Gleason said. “I am grateful for the foundation laid by my predecessors, Tom Holliday and Michele Monigold. I look forward to leading our program into its next chapter while upholding the tradition of excellence that defines us."

Gleason holds a bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and a master’s from the University of Akron. His career began in Akron Public Schools in 1994. He was born and raised in Wadsworth.

His director of bands is a supplemental contract and is in addition to his regular teaching contract.

OTHER ACTION:

  • The board also approved Michael Coon as the new girl’s basketball coach.

  • Heard the district’s treasurer’s office received the Auditor of State Accounting Award for the third consecutive year (2021, 2022 and 2023) for having clean audits.

  • Approved replacing the grass field at the soccer and track stadium with turf for $1.9 million. The project should be completed by August, Vasco is the contractor.

  • Approved a roof replacement and repair for three sections of the Jackson Memorial Middle School at a cost of $515,950. The contractor will be Advanced Industrial Roofing.

UP NEXT: Meets 5 p.m. May 21 at Jackson High School.

Pat Faulhaber

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson Local Schools names David Gleason as director of bands

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