Marysville — Learning Japanese at Marysville-Pilchuck High School has taught Cheyanna Teachout not just words, but culture. She wants to teach English in Japan one day, and is devastated that Japanese may be cut next year to save money.
“Please don’t get rid of Japanese,” she begged the Marysville School Board this past week. “I’ll cry.”
Doreen White, a mother of six, doesn’t want teachers to lose their jobs.
Taylor Lindquist, an eighth-grader at Tenth Street School, desperately wants to save middle school band.
With money as tight as it’s ever been and dozens of teachers and classes on the chopping block, kids and their families are stepping up to try to save their favorite programs.
“I know times are tough and changes need to be made, but without music programs, students won’t be able to express themselves musically,” Taylor told the school board. “Who knows? The next musical genius might be in Marysville right now waiting to be taught.”
Across Washington, layoff notices must be sent to teachers by Friday.
Marysville schools expect to lose between $6 million and $8 million next year with major drops in state funding, a 200-student enrollment decline and other cuts. The district operates on a $111 million budget.
“It is just terribly, terribly hard work and heartbreaking work to dismantle educational programs and to make reductions for colleagues who you’ve worked side-by-side with,” Superintendent Larry Nyland said. “But it is the job that, unfortunately, has to be done. So we’re trying to think through it and work through it and cry through it — and do all of those other steps to try to build as much understanding and as much accuracy as possible.”
Marysville school officials have scheduled a series of meetings to explain their budget. People can also share their opinions at school board meetings over the next few months, as the board prepares to make cuts.
Around 70 kids and dozens of teachers packed a school board meeting Tuesday to protest. Student after student begged the board to save individual teachers, classes and programs.
“I don’t want to cut anybody,” school board member Don Hatch told the crowd. “I don’t want to cut one person, but something has to be done.”
Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292, kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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