Fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students in the Morgan Hill
School District are participating in a unique elementary program –
every student in those grades has music as a part of their regular
curriculum.
Fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students in the Morgan Hill School District are participating in a unique elementary program – every student in those grades has music as a part of their regular curriculum.
The program is the result of a grant obtained by the district. The grant has certain provisions, however, and if the district does not comply, it loses the grant.
When it was time to make $2.6 million in cuts to this year’s budget, the performance-based budget committee was forced to cut more than $28,000 from the music program, which would have caused the district to lose the grant.
The band booster clubs at Live Oak High, Britton Middle and Martin Murphy Middle apparently recognized the value of the elementary program and came to the rescue – they wrote checks totaling the amount the district was forced to cut.
“I think it is too bad all of our schools can’t have well-funded art and music programs,” Trustee George Panos said. “I would like to think that the district could keep all the present music programs in a continuing mode.”
Panos said specific programs have not been discussed yet as the district grapples with antcipated cuts in funding while the state contends with a $35 billion budget deficit.
“I haven’t discussed that with anyone, not specific programs,” he said. “We are waiting for information to come back from staff and from the performance-based budget committee.”
The committee met Feb. 11 and 12; however no report has been made to the board because the board will not hold another regular meeting until Monday.
Trustee Shelle Thomas was the only board member to attend the budget-planning meetings.
Panos said that he was pleased to see, during the School Board’s special meeting Feb. 1, a number of people who addressed the board concerning the music program.
“That shows that there’s leadership in the community,” he said. “I think it would be even tougher to have the kind of program I would like to see in our schools, but whatever we do, we are going to need community support. My roots are deeply involved in school music programs.”
Parent Andrea Givens told board members on Feb. 1 that the music program has value beyond academics.
“It’s the anti-drug,” she said. “It helps our students learn about teamwork, it gives students an opportunity to be a part of something larger. Now they may lose that opportunity … Before we make cuts we regret, let’s look at thing creatively. We parents are willing to help, with bake sales, small fees, whatever. Let’s be good role models for our kids in getting things done by saving the music program.”
Carmen Dryfus, a Paradise Valley parent, agreed.
“They need more weapons in our arsenal as they become adults,” she said. “The music program provides them another thing to fall back on. They need diverse interests and experiences and a world-class education that involves music.”
Panos said, although he wished he could promise that the music program would not be cut, the district will have to make budget cuts.
“We have to wait and see what comes up through the ranks,” he said. “But I am glad to see somebody putting such emphasis on it right now. And I think is wonderful the way the boosters demonstrated they cared and stepped outside the box to ensure the music could continue. This may be a trend, if we want music and arts in our public education system to continue.”
The board meeting begins at 7 p.m. Monday at the District Office, 15600 Concord Circle.
