[Grovenet] An Important Matter

Wed Mar 28 11:28:12 PDT 2007

Steve,

Did you happen to attend the most recent school board meeting on Monday evening, March 19th when this was discussed?  What I heard at the meeting wasn't necessarily that anyone other than Al Rogers was hot on the trail of moving the music program to become an after-school program.

Jack Musser spent quite a bit of time explaining the overall predicament: teachers continue to stress the need for more instruction time and administration is looking at all opportunities to insure they give proper instruction time to meet the "No Child Left Behind" mandated requirements.  Musser tried very hard to convey the message that he absolutely supports music instruction and that Al Roger's proposal is one of the options to consider but certainly not the only option to consider.  Musser also made the point that when budget cuts have been made in the past, at no time has Forest Grove school system ever made cuts in any music program.  He acknowledged the accolades Forest Grove has received for their music program, and in particular the Strings Program.

After listening to Mr. Musser and several Board members speak, and after listening to Al Rogers speak, it became quite clear at least to me that Al Rogers option was not necessarily the option that Musser and the Board found appealing.  In fact I remember one Board member who very gently and almost imperceptibly challenged Mr. Rogers for not considering any other option *BUT* to change the music program instruction time.

I have already sent an email to Mr. Musser, including options to consider besides Mr. Roger's.  I've also offered my help in leading Mr. Musser and the Board through a process of developing options and then selecting an option that insures music instruction stays in the schools with the least amount of disruption possible while also supporing the requirement for schools to meet the Federal & State guidelines.

Allen Warren

----- Original Message ----
From: STEVE JERRETT <stevedj at teleport.com>
To: grovenet at rdrop.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 9:01:25 PM
Subject: [Grovenet] An Important Matter

As many of you are aware, high stakes testing has dominated the educational landscape over the last decade. School districts are pressured by  State and Federal bureaucratic entities far removed from the reality of the classroom.

This narrow pursuit of proficiency produces a very undesirable side-effect. Any subject not deemed important is relegated to second class status. The arts-music, drama, art-are all trampled by the "meeting the standard"  stampede. 

This scenario is playing out now in the Forest Grove School District. Test score are lagging at Tom McCall Middle School. Feeling the pressure, administrators are looking for reasons for  and solutions to the shortfall.  Administrative mind set, predictably, focuses on the arts as an easy "scapegoat."  Arts classes are traditionally viewed by many administrators as superficial and expendable. The case in point is no exception. Tom McCall Principal Al Rogers has proposed a plan to reduce the status of Band and Orchestra classes from their rightful place in the school curriculum to an after- school activity. 

I am posting the following letter on Greene because I know that many of you value a diversified educational system that values all endeavors. 

To: Music Performance Students, Parents and Friends of Music Education.
Re: A Call to Action

Dear Students, Parents and Friends:

I am writing this letter to inform you of a situation that could negatively impact the Forest Grove School District music program. District administrators are considering a plan to remove the Band and Orchestra classes from the regular school day at Tom McCall Upper Elementary School. This plan would reduce the status of music performance groups from their rightful place as a part of the school curriculum to an after school “activity.”  The implementation of this plan could negatively effect the quality our performance groups for years to come.

After 30 years of experience as a public school music educator, specifically as a director of performance groups, I can state with confidence that this move will have nothing but a detrimental effect on our performance groups. Reduced student participation in the elementary schools will impact the middle and high school programs for years. The effects of this plan can never be reversed. 

Also, if this plan becomes reality, it could have serious ramifications to the very survival of these valuable programs. If music performance groups are reduced in status to an after school activity, they will stand a much greater chance of being cut in financially hard times. It is imperative that this plan not be implemented.

Therefore, I am asking each and every one of you to take action to assure that this plan is not implemented.  Here are some actions that you can take to help assure that it is not:

Write a letter to, or email our Superintendent, Jack Musser, school board Chairwoman, Susan Winterbourne and Tom McCall Principal Al Rogers. Try to make sure the letter arrives before the April 9 meeting of the Board of Directors. Mailing and email addresses will follow this letter.
Attend the next meeting of our Board of Directors on Monday, April 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the Grove Room at the School District office. You can address the board regarding this issue at the beginning of the meeting during the “unscheduled public appearances.” Be sure to sign in before the meeting to assure yourself a spot on the agenda.
Give this letter to as many people you can between now and   the April 9 meeting. Nothing is more effective than large numbers of people to support a cause.    

In closing, I urge you to help assure that our music groups continue to thrive. Your support and involvement can make a difference. 

Sincerely,

Steve Jerrett
Parent, District Patron and Music Educator

Contact Information:

Jack Musser
Superintendent of Schools
Forest Grove School District
1728 Main Street
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
Phone: 503-359-2414
Email: jmusser at fgsd.k12.or.us

Susan Winterbourne
Chair, Board of Directors
Forest Grove School District
1728 Main Street
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
Email: swinterbourne at fgsd.k12.or.us

Al Rogers
Principal, Tom McCall Upper Elementary School
1341 Pacific Avenue
Forest Grove, Oregon 97116
Email: arogers at fgsd.k12.or.us

Steve Jerrett
stevedj at teleport.com
EarthLink Revolves Around You.
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