Earlier this year, the EWSD School Board sent out a survey asking for people’s opinions on many budget-related issues. They received data showing that almost 60% of people who answered the survey wanted the fine arts budget to stay the same.
Fine arts received the most votes for maintaining its current budget. After considering this information the school board proposed to cut the music, art, and PE budget by $695,000 compared to $118,000 for the district offices
Alexis Koch, the head of the Academy of Visual & Performing Arts, declined to talk to the Hive.
However, at the Jan. 28 budget meeting, she shared at public comment.
“Students would experience a 50% reduction in their music education from two days a week to one, resulting in the loss of 157.5 instructional hours and 210 classes, class sessions between those years,” Koch said. “Further, the elimination of instrumental music for grades four and five would remove an additional 87.5 hours, or 140 lessons in rehearsals. Students would experience a 50% reduction in their music education from two days a week to one, resulting in the loss of 157.5 instructional hours and 210 classes, class sessions between those years. Further, the elimination of instrumental music for grades four and five would remove an additional 87.5 hours, or 140 lessons in rehearsals.”
Koch also mentioned some of the medical impacts of this music cut.
“According to Dr Howard Gardner, a renowned educational psychologist, musical intelligence is one of the core cognitive areas critical to a child’s overall development,” Koch said. “His work also highlights the consequences of musical deprivation, which can hinder a child’s cognitive growth and emotional well-being when they are not in a regular practice of these skills.”
Band is important to Henry King, a fifth grader at Founders Memorial School.
“It teaches you skills and band is fun because you get to hang out with friends,” he said. “If you learn an instrument, it teaches you a lot. In the long run, you can do anything. It also teaches you how to work hard and how to be committed to something.”
Megan Ferris is a music teacher at Founders who also spoke at budget meeting.
“Singing in a choir actually regulates your breathing and synchronizes the heartbeats of the whole ensemble to beat together as one,” Ferris said. “It’s hard to imagine a more magical way to connect with others and in singing, a choir as an adult is the most participated in recreation activity worldwide.”
As of Feb. 5, the EWSD School Board plans to keep the current structure of music lessons going into the 2025-26 school year. This includes maintaining individual lessons and scheduling frequency.
In previous meetings, the board stated that they were going to reduce the budget for the music department, which would include cutting individual lessons and reducing scheduling frequency. In the most recent meeting, they decided not to cut funds for the music department.
Due to this change in plans for the music department, the Board needs to cut funds elsewhere. They proposed cutting money from the counseling department, which would include a reduction in the number of school counselors.
The last change the board has proposed involves Pre-K student programs. They would be offering universal transportation for Pre-K students and switching to a three-site model in Essex Junction, Essex Town, and Westford. A three-site model is a framework for learning that integrates three distinct but interconnected spaces or environments—classroom, home, and community.
