Superintendent Addresses Possible Music Program Cuts At L-S High

SUDBURY, MA—Dozens of students advocated against a budget cut that would eliminate a choral section and convert a music teacher to part-time at the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School last week.

In a letter to the school community, Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong addressed the issue, proposing a working group that would study the issue, and maintain a choral section if interest warrants it.

Wong shared the following:

Dear LS Families,

I am writing to thank the community for its thoughtful and passionate feedback regarding proposed changes in teaching resources affecting the music department. The most valuable of that feedback involved raising questions as to the potential structural and curricular barriers to enrollment in choral music courses. On behalf of the members of the School Committee and myself, we, to a person, believe deeply in the importance of music education as part of our ongoing commitment to providing students with the skills needed to be thoughtful and productive citizens once they leave L-S.

In consideration of the feedback received, I am proposing the following.A working group comprised of staff, students, and community members will be convened to study these questions, whether they relate to (i)the development of courses that enable more episodic, or semester-long, engagement in music, and which allows for both exploration for the musical novice as well as depth for students committed to a full four-year program, (ii) the way in which our music curriculum is presented to middle school students and their families, or (iii) what curricular or scheduling impediments, if any, may affect enrollment.The results from this work will help us ensure that our music programs are as accessible as possible to students.

With respect to staff planning for next school year, I will propose to School Committee that we maintain a second section of choral music if by mid-April choral music requests reaches 80 students. We added a second section to choral music in 2015-16 school year when enrollment went over 80 students. We maintained staffing for the second section although enrollment decreased to 62 in the following year and 49 in the current year. If we are able to maintain this section the choral music teacher would be .92 FTE, which is a number higher than what his tenure at LS has been in any of the years before 2015-16.Each year, we review our course offerings and enrollment trends, and make adjustments as needed.

It is my intention that, as we look fo rways to attract more students to music, we will be able to restore the choral music to at least a full-time position. There is precedent for this approach, as we successfully increased FTE support for our in school drama program two years ago to satisfy increased demand.

As always, I thank you for and am in appreciation of your support of L-S and our students.

Sincerely,

Bella Wong

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