I do not agree that PAM should be allowed to tap into its scholarship fund to pay teacher salaries and other operational expenses. That money was given by donors with the understanding and expection that it would be used to pay for lessons for deserving music students preparing for a career in music. Rather than allow PAM to use this money to cover its budget deficit, it could and should be returned to the donors or else given to Millersville University to be awarded to deserving pre-college music students in its preparatory division.
PAM’s website states that it has 30 “international” faculty members. Yet Friday’s Lancaster Newspaper story says that as of May 27, when it filed for bankruptcy, it had 13 “annually salaried faculty”. Some of these teachers teach for other institutions in addition to teaching at PAM. A clarinet teacher at PAM also teaches at F&M, for example.
PAM still claims “over 300 students”, although what is meant by “students” has never been explained by anyone connected with the Academy, even though this question has been asked numerous times.
Quality music education in the Lancaster area does not depend upon nor revolve around PAM. Music education was alive and well before PAM came and it will be after PAM is gone.
At that time, according to the filing, it had 13 annually salaried faculty and 10 hourly support staff on its payroll, all paid monthly.
the endowment should be returned. it was specifically set up as an endowment, not as a cash reserve. PAM could have survived but at this point it will not. The benefits to this are many: the teachers will find jobs at responsible organizations, the students will find other opportunities, and PAM will finally be out of the headlines.