GULF SHORES, Ala. — Concerns are rising among parents and students at Gulf Shores High School after learning that drama and possibly art could be removed from the choice of fine art electives at the school next year.

Heather Bohon, presently in her second year at Gulf Shores teaching advanced English, drama and journalism has been informed that due to county cutbacks she will not be retained for next year.

In addition to Bohon, art teacher Al Borchardt is retiring at the end of the 2009 school year, and no one is sure if either position will be replaced.

Bohon, who worked at schools in Spain and the Netherlands for the Department of Defense, as well as in Washington, D.C. before coming to Gulf Shores, has her doubts about the fine arts program for next school year.

“The feeling I got when I talked to the principal was that electives were going to be cut,” Bohon said.

Principal Dr. Ernie Rosado could not comment, being it is a personnel issue, and calls made to the Baldwin County Board of Education administrative offices were not returned.

On April 23, the board voted unanimously to terminate about 350 employees, but board member Angie Swiger, who represents the Gulf Shores area said she will do whatever she can to make sure that both positions will be filled.

“I don’t know what is going to happen yet, but I want to see both positions filled,” Swiger said. “Dr. Rosado has expressed his concerns about wanting to fill the positions. I am a big proponent of the arts. I would like to see a full-time drama teacher.”

Swiger said it is too early to tell what will happen.

“We are waiting on the final budget so we will know what we can do going forward,” she said.

In the meantime, Bohon will search locally for a new position, but has mixed emotions about having to leave the school and what she has worked toward for the past two years.

According to Bohon, interest in drama and the arts has been increasing among students. In her first year, there was no drama class, but in the fall and spring semesters of this school year she had a drama class in each. She is disappointed that the position is being removed.

“It is a letdown when you try to build something up, then see it pulled out from under you,” Bohon said. “And no one ever actually fights for the arts as an extracurricular activity like they normally would fight for sports.”

Ironically, while the drama and art classes at GSHS remain in question, the city of Gulf Shores is trying to fill a newly created position, that of Director of Recreation and Cultural Arts.

Bohon hopes to stay in town, and plans to look for employment at other Baldwin County Schools.