Eight days ago, I wrote about budget cuts proposed by South Milwaukee school district administrators, cuts that included eliminating the fifth grade orchestra program, eliminating a teaching position for the at-risk program, cutting the golf team, and raising fees for students and athletics. My original entry sparked a lively debate on the proposed cuts, and the debate was no less lively at the school board meeting on Wednesday, March 3. Due to the large crowd of parents, students, alumni, and others in attendance, the school board meeting was moved to the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, where interested parties were given the opportunity to speak their minds about the proposed cuts.
While I don’t have video of all the comments, I did want to share two snippets of video I shot. First up is orchestra director Craig Kellenberger explaining how the orchestra program has been set up to fail by administrators in the South Milwaukee School District:
And next, music teacher Mary Beth Garrett continues to point out how decisions by district administrators have created a no-win situation for the orchestra program:
Thanks Zack for showing this – unfortunately the audio makes them sound like chipmunks, but it captures the reasons why our numbers dropped in our music department.
The High School block schedule (without “skinnies”) has created fierce competition for high school students to take the required college courses they need, yet still get a couple extra curriculuars in (such as music or art) that colleges are also looking for.
Also, the middle school’s implementation of spanish opposite music has also created conflict, as it again creates unfair competition for students to either take a world language OR music (not both), and we are seeing a significant drop in participation.
Everyone expects an excellent education for their children and grandchildren, but nobody wants to pay for it. The system has been broken for 10 years and there is nowhere else to cut. It may be the string orchestra program (with others) this year, but every year from now on will be something else, until our schools end up dissolving.
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