The music issue – the possible elimination of the district
’s elementary music program – was raised once again at Monday’s
regular School Board meeting, as trustees listened to members of
the community plead for the program’s continuation.
The music issue – the possible elimination of the district’s elementary music program – was raised once again at Monday’s regular School Board meeting, as trustees listened to members of the community plead for the program’s continuation.
Trustee Jan Masuda asked Board President George Panos for permission to set the record straight.
“We voted, back in April or May, I’m not exactly sure, in a 4-2 vote, not to cut the elementary music program,” she said.
One of the most emotion-generating programs the district has considered cutting, both last year and this year, is the elementary music program for 4th-6th graders. When it was on the chopping block last year, parents packed board meetings in support. The Live Oak Emerald Regime band boosters stepped forward and contributed $18,000, and Britton and Martin Murphy Middle boosters each contributed $5,000 for a total of $28,000 so the program could stay alive.
For next year, $120,000 is needed to keep the program, which receives decreasing funding from a Cultural Initiatives grant, alive. The decision not to cut elementary music was made April 5.
For the issue to be raised again, trustees would have to request it be brought back. Trustees are expected to formally adopt the budget June 28.
In a similar circumstance, when classified employees were coming before trustees to tell them classified had been hardest hit the two previous years, and now again this year, Trustee Shelle Thomas tried to gauge interest among trustees in restoring $57,000 in cuts.
In the original $900,000 cuts, classified cuts of $56,000 were approved by the board; when the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU, which represents the classified workers, negotiated the way in which the cuts were to be carried out, it came up with $57,000.
Board members did not elect to bring the $57,000 back for a second vote.
What clouds the music issue is that in May before the governor’s revise was issued, trustees were still looking at the possibility of an additional $600,000 in cuts, and district officials said trustees needed to consider the music program.
With the May revise, trustees were told there was no need to make further cuts.
However, rumors continue to fly around the district that the elementary music program is under the ax.
Prior to Monday’s meeting Assistant Superintendent Denise Tate, who heads the district human resources department, said she was waiting on clear direction from the board on the fate of the elementary music program.
Tate said board members were being lobbied, particularly by the teachers union, to eliminate the elementary music program
Teacher union President Donna Foster answered that teachers were not seeking to have the program cut in order to have money available for pay raises.
Both middle schools, Britton and Martin Murphy, have band opportunities, including advanced band, cadet band and, at Britton, jazz band.
Live Oak High offers not only the Emerald Regime Marching Band but also concert band, jazz band, a pit orchestra and choir, a new offering this year.
