In the next few weeks the public is being invited to give input in addressing the current reduced state budget and what that means to us in the Edmonds School District. There are many district line items which are being evaluated for reduction and/or elimination, and fifth-grade instrumental music, beginning band and orchestra, is one of those line items.
Music has been valued in Edmonds for years — it is part of our culture, a distinction of our district, an important piece of who we are, why some choose to live here!
Although fifth-grade instrumental music (band and orchestra) is the only music program which may be cut, none of those teachers will be lost. Instead, the cuts will be to other music teachers across the whole music program, from elementary to high school. About a dozen music teachers will be affected. Teachers who are the “newest” in the district, the ones most recently hired, the ones with the lowest seniority, the least tenure — these are the ones who will lose their jobs. They are elementary classroom teachers, middle and high school band, orchestra and choir teachers. They are remarkably gifted teachers (some having worked here for years) who made a point of coming to Edmonds because they were interested in furthering the music reputation of this district! They teach here because of what each of them, in their own unique way, brings as strengths to the district, and not just because they have a university K-12 music credential. If cuts in music are made here in Edmonds, the music program will drastically change. The reputation we have for music will be hurt, a part of our heritage will be lost, and many will soon be saying “Remember when?”! Is this really what we want to happen?
Frank Blosser
Lynnwood
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