Due to choir director Sheree Stoppel’s petition to the Board of Education on Monday, Nov. 12, a temporary accompanist position has been made available. Accompanist Kay Spikes began working with the choirs on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Stoppel has already noticed an improvement in how she is able to teach her classes.

“We move faster, I can hear things [in the choir] and the kids can respond,” Stoppel said. “[The students] are really benefitting.”

Coming across Spikes while searching for an accompanist was a surprise for Stoppel.

“I sent out emails to people who were recommended by my choral friends [from other schools],” Stoppel said. “[Spikes] responded, and it turned out that we knew each other from 20 years ago, when we both lived out in southern Kansas. We had no idea that we had both moved east.”

Stoppel is in the final stage of getting a permanent accompanist approved, meaning the position could be in place by the beginning of next school year.