Schools

Parents, Students Protest Music Cuts Farmington School Officials Say Won't Happen

Rumors about staffing and program reductions drive more than a dozen people to speak during public comment at Tuesday's school board meeting.

More than a dozen Farmington Public Schools parents and students spoke during Tuesday night's school board meeting, after hearing the district plans to cut music programs to remedy a $7 million budget shortfall.

School officials and staff told parents gathered at the Schulman Administrative Center that no program cuts are planned, although the district does plan to cut three full-time equivalent positions across all three high schools. Dr. Michele Harmala, associate superintendent of student support services and organizational leadership, said no decisions have been made as to where or how those cuts will be made. 

Supt. Sue Zurvalec had Harmala and Jon Manier, director of instructional services, explain the staffing process, which begins after students choose their classes for the next school year. A draft master schedule is currently under review by administrators, and specific staff assignments won't be made until June, Harmala said. 

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Some music classes run with a very small number of students, she added. Manier said a music theory class was combined with another music class because only four students were enrolled, and an auditorium tech class generally has from 9 to 11 students. 

"We know we have had more staff than we have needed," Harmala said. 

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Parents and students seemed most concerned with the marching band, drum line, winter guard and ensemble programs. While classes might not be eliminated, they believe cutting music faculty will mean teachers won't step forward to lead those programs. 

Michelle Riehl, who leads the Farmington High Music Patrons, said in 2000, Farmington Schools' music program was recognized among the best in the nation, but wasn't included among the best communities for music education this year. 

"Thirteen years ago, the nation looked to us ... Today, we aren't even on the list," she said. "We don't have the same focus as we did." 

Harrison High senior Kelly Smith, who will study music at Grand Valley State after graduation, said having marching band friends before he started high school increased his level of confidence and made the transition less stressful.

The program "helped me improve my grades a lot," he said, and led him to join other activities, like school musicals. "I just got more and more involved."

Board member Howard Wallach said when rumors start to spread, "it causes the kind of fear ... that many of you have expressed tonight." He said board workshops and meetings have not included any discussion of cutting music programs. 

Zurvalec stressed that the marching band programs won't be cut, but parents seemed unconvinced, because of the proposed staff reductions. She also urged parents to contact state lawmakers.

"Our funding is at 2002 levels," she said. "We have a proposal right now that would take $850 million out of the school aid fund ... We need your voices in Lansing. We need to send a message as a community." 


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