It has become a common scenario across many Twin City school districts.
No passage of an operating levy in November equals a spring of budget reductions.
Some school boards have been considering cutting some of the music programs out of their district offerings.
A recommendation in District 834 to cut fifth- and sixth-grade instrumental music programs to save $300,000 if a November levy doesn’t pass brought criticism from the Stillwater Area High School Orchestra Director.
“The elementary cost center’s suggestion appears disingenuous and may lack the integrity that the Stillwater community expects from its schools and from its School Board,” Stillwater Area High School Orchestra Director Jerry Jones said. “This elimination looks as though it is only effecting the fifth and sixth grade, where in fact it would eliminate the entire program in time.”
As part of a two-year $11 million budget reductions in the Osseo School District, following a failed operating levy request last November, it is being proposed to cut fifth grade orchestra.
School funding continues to be a hot button issue throughout Minnesota, such as – some school districts claiming funding formulas are unfair.
When school boards decide where to cut money – should music programs receive the ax?
I’m torn. I’ve had two children in a school district several years ago when millions of dollars in budget cuts took place. As a parent – it was tough experience. You ask yourself, “What do I think should be cut?”
There are no easy answers.
Should students, schools and staff face the music and expect a possible future without music programs? Or, should school boards find other areas to cut? Should anything be “off the table” when it comes to school budget reductions?
Share your thoughts in comments.
Let's have another vote. I think people voted last time thinking about all the ways we get nickel and dimed, and didn't see that those funds were for us in our immediate community. Even if you don't have kids, you should appreciate living somewhere the kids are well-rounded. Lastly, in specific regard to Stillwater, where both sports and music are strongly supported, we shouldn't cut off something that brings our community so much pride. I understand what Mr. Jones meant. No 5th grade musicians means less 12th grade musicians, plain and simple. But I have nothing to offer about what to cut...Lower the thermostat? :)
Why should your neighbor have to pay for your kid to take music lessons or to play sports? PBD wrote: "Let's have another vote" Oh, we'll have another vote. Be assured of that. The school district, and it's apologists (including the teacher's union) will wage an all out "For The Kids" campaign to get their grubby paws deeper in your pockets. Like all government there is never enough for these people They need to practice some austerity like most families and businesses that have had to cut back in recent years. Why should they get a raise when everyone else is getting a cut? If they're going to cut anything it should be the subsidized daycare program otherwise referred to as ECFE. That would be a start.
For every piece of printed material we touch, it passed through an artist's hands. Magazines, books, newspapers, most items you buy at the grocery store. Every box of cereal, jar of pasta sauce. Every time we turn on the radio, and listen to music we hear an artist. They got their start somewhere. Every time we turn on the TV or go to the movies we see and hear artists. Actresses and actors, graphic artists that create the titles, and the music that keep us riveted to the screen. I paid every time my child participated in school theatre, on stage or back stage. I am sure I paid more per year than the football player at the high school, and I am ok with that. The exposure had to start somewhere. I am also a supporter of sports. Kids should have the opportunity to be exposed to sports, and be allowed to play. Yes, I have paid for my child to participate. And still do. We need to produce well rounded students, well rounded adults. To think outside the box, and that not everything is black and white. Great teachers inspire. And the music teachers I know inspire their students.
on our school districts. The fall out will be an education system making decisions only by the dollars and not made by "common sense." Can you really imagine your own education without the Arts--We might as well go back to the caves--even in caves they had art..Another sad day for Edina..
let's eliminate the Department of Education and the Teacher's Union and let the people of Edina run their own school. Since there is plenty of money to support the hockey needs-thru Boosters, private enterprise----If we want to compete with the world we better get on the same playing field--Spend money where it helps the children--not the unions and administration and overhead. Wasn't there a time in American History that the Department of Education did NOT exist?? That certainly isn't written about in the AP American History book---Have you read that lately---certianly is not the History I learned 35 years at Edina. How does History change?
Its time sports and other extra curricular activities are removed and privatized to either the cities, private organizations or businesses. I 100% agree with Markus - why should I have to pay for my neighbors kid to play a sport? How ludicrous is that? How about I pay gas money to so his parents can drive him to all this stuff 4 nights a week? Seriously - Why stop at just the fee? How about I help pay for the food your soon to be pro athelete needs? It's time some of you wake up .... The Free ride is over! The districts have so severely mismanaged years and years of funds now they are just stuck in a cycle of begging! We need to choke off the begging at some point and not just with school districts either .... we need to choke off this moronic notion of spreading the wealth garbage at the State and Federal level as well. All of you people that think some else should have to pay need a wake up call. There is just not enough money to go around!
Catholic and private schools are the models we should strive for. Education should follow the free enterprise model in our country. Free education is not a "right."
No more freeloading from the general population for the activities of parents and their kids.