Lakewood City Schools Music Program in Jeopardy

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Tonight, I received the following message via a Facebook Event Invitation.

"After years of dedicated service to the community, two of our elementary school general music teachers are retiring. However, the board has decided to only post ONE of the two open positions and to spread the workload of the other full-time position across the rest of the music department staff. As you can imagine, this not only increases the workload for the teachers-planning and teaching courses outside their specific expertise--it also creates a complicated schedule in which the teachers must constantly travel between schools.

The result will be a weakening of the program. Teachers will be forced to eliminate extra curricular experiences for the elementary and middle school students--Cedar Point performances, Elementary Choirs, Solo & Ensemble and OMEA large group adjudicated performances, Strolling Strings, Jazz Band, Harding Singers, the middle school musicals. As these opportunities disappear, the students lose valuable opportunities to improve their musicianship--not to mention the opportunity to bond with fellow musicians and create lasting friendships. The effects of this decision will ripple out, eventually impacting the quality and availability of high school ensembles.

So what can we do to keep this from happening? How do we show our support for the program that has achieved so much and brought so much joy to this community?

Speak up, relentlessly. Superintendent Jeff Patterson and the Board needs to hear from all of us--parents of current students, teachers, alumni who have chosen to return home to make a life and raise their families in this district, Lakewood residents of all ages. We must support this program and insist that this tradition of musical excellence lives on. We must show them that our community values this music department and convince them to change their minds about this destructive decision.

Make your voice heard. If you are able, please come to the next board meeting on June 15th at 7:00pm in the Board Auditorium at the Lakewood Board of Education (1470 Warren Road).

Please spread the word. If you can't make it but your parents still live in Lakewood, please consider forwarding this invitation along to them. We need to hear from you!"

I also received a message send out to some parents from the Lakewood Music Boosters about a meeting scheduled for Around on the Corner on June 10th. I asked the Music Boosters to clarify this meeting and this was the response, " "The meeting on June 10 is to hear about the building and the funding problems regarding the performing arts wing. We are also hoping to get some information about the staffing cuts. But the big push is to attend the meeting on the 15th for the school board. That is where the community can let it's voice be heard!"

So, if you are concerned about the Music Program in Lakewood City Schools please try to attend the meeting board meeting on Monday, June 15th. Spread the word and be sure to write the members of the Board of Education and Superintendent Jeff Patterson with your comments and concerns. Contact information is the the Lakewood City Schools website.