Post by brant on Mar 18, 2010 7:23:11 GMT -6
D204's music won't die
But some worry cuts will make program suffer
March 18, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
It appears the imminent demise of music in Indian Prairie District 204 has been highly exaggerated.
"There will be band, orchestra and chorus at every level as it has always been in the curriculum," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said Wednesday afternoon.
Rumors of the district's music program being gutted in response to the state funding crisis are just that, she said. Only one offering is proposed for the chopping block: middle school technique class. The class meets for one period once a week in addition to regular band and orchestra classes, Birkett said.
"That's it," Birkett said of proposed music cuts. "That's the only one."
She said a lot of rumors are circulating about the future of the music program, and that district officials have been trying to address them.
Rumors started circulating about the music program after the district announced it would be laying off 145 non-tenured teachers as part of the plan to make up for the expected $12.2 million shortfall in general state aid next year. Earlier this year the district closed a $9.2 million deficit in the 2011 budget through a variety of means. Those cuts included elimination of some positions, consolidation of classes and delaying some expenditures.
The district, Birkett said, doesn't want to cut anything.
"These are really tough times," Birkett said. "I see the kids' faces in my mind every day and the staff members' every day."
As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 2,300 people have joined a Facebook group called "Save Quality Music Education in District 204," a group started late Sunday night by Waubonsie Valley alumna Jennifer Marotta, who is now a professional musician living in Atlanta. She performs regularly in the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and teaches at Emory University and Kennesaw State University.
Many of those posting on the Facebook page said the technique class is key to developing young musicians.
"Even though it sounds minor, it's a class that's very specific," said Marotta, who took the class while attending Gregory Middle School.
"Those technique classes I was a part of in middle school made me really feel like I could improve and gave me confidence," Marotta said.
Technique class, she said, is essentially like private lessons within a class setting. Not offering the class at the middle school level will dramatically lower the quality of the district's music program, Marotta said. "It will take a year or two for the effects to show."
She said students will not improve as quickly because they won't have to be accountable for their technique.
"The reason they won Grammy after Grammy at Neuqua is they have the technique class at the middle school," Marotta said.
She said if cuts are made, they could be after school offerings.
"I understand things have to be cut," Marotta said. "I just think it's been targeted so heavily at the music program."
With the district reducing teaching positions by 6.5 percent, there are concerns about the impact the layoffs will have in the music program. Marotta said she knows of at least 10 music teachers who received non-renewal notices, which means remaining teachers will be teaching more students.
"They're not going to be able to have any time to spend individually with the students, even after school," Marotta said.
District 204 administrators are looking at a way to possibly offer the technique class either before or after school with a fee to make it self-supporting for students who would like to participate.
Birkett said cuts are being proposed in several areas, not just music.
"You have to see the overall plan, and that will go up on Board Docs on Friday," Birkett said.
A budget presentation will be given to the board when it meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, in Aurora.
But some worry cuts will make program suffer
March 18, 2010
By KATHY CICHON kcichon@stmedianetwork.com
It appears the imminent demise of music in Indian Prairie District 204 has been highly exaggerated.
"There will be band, orchestra and chorus at every level as it has always been in the curriculum," Superintendent Kathy Birkett said Wednesday afternoon.
Rumors of the district's music program being gutted in response to the state funding crisis are just that, she said. Only one offering is proposed for the chopping block: middle school technique class. The class meets for one period once a week in addition to regular band and orchestra classes, Birkett said.
"That's it," Birkett said of proposed music cuts. "That's the only one."
She said a lot of rumors are circulating about the future of the music program, and that district officials have been trying to address them.
Rumors started circulating about the music program after the district announced it would be laying off 145 non-tenured teachers as part of the plan to make up for the expected $12.2 million shortfall in general state aid next year. Earlier this year the district closed a $9.2 million deficit in the 2011 budget through a variety of means. Those cuts included elimination of some positions, consolidation of classes and delaying some expenditures.
The district, Birkett said, doesn't want to cut anything.
"These are really tough times," Birkett said. "I see the kids' faces in my mind every day and the staff members' every day."
As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 2,300 people have joined a Facebook group called "Save Quality Music Education in District 204," a group started late Sunday night by Waubonsie Valley alumna Jennifer Marotta, who is now a professional musician living in Atlanta. She performs regularly in the Atlanta Opera Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and teaches at Emory University and Kennesaw State University.
Many of those posting on the Facebook page said the technique class is key to developing young musicians.
"Even though it sounds minor, it's a class that's very specific," said Marotta, who took the class while attending Gregory Middle School.
"Those technique classes I was a part of in middle school made me really feel like I could improve and gave me confidence," Marotta said.
Technique class, she said, is essentially like private lessons within a class setting. Not offering the class at the middle school level will dramatically lower the quality of the district's music program, Marotta said. "It will take a year or two for the effects to show."
She said students will not improve as quickly because they won't have to be accountable for their technique.
"The reason they won Grammy after Grammy at Neuqua is they have the technique class at the middle school," Marotta said.
She said if cuts are made, they could be after school offerings.
"I understand things have to be cut," Marotta said. "I just think it's been targeted so heavily at the music program."
With the district reducing teaching positions by 6.5 percent, there are concerns about the impact the layoffs will have in the music program. Marotta said she knows of at least 10 music teachers who received non-renewal notices, which means remaining teachers will be teaching more students.
"They're not going to be able to have any time to spend individually with the students, even after school," Marotta said.
District 204 administrators are looking at a way to possibly offer the technique class either before or after school with a fee to make it self-supporting for students who would like to participate.
Birkett said cuts are being proposed in several areas, not just music.
"You have to see the overall plan, and that will go up on Board Docs on Friday," Birkett said.
A budget presentation will be given to the board when it meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the Crouse Education Center, 780 Shoreline Drive, in Aurora.
