Though the Renton School District faces $5.3 million in cuts, the most controversial issue – fifth-grade band and orchestra – only makes up about $200,000.
Those working to save the fifth-grade program have submitted a 900-signature petition to the school board.
“One of the issues we have is that eliminating the program doesn’t save all that much money,” said Kristina Yuen, who worked on presenting an alternative proposal to the school board.
The school board plans to vote on the $130 million budget Aug. 26.
The current orchestra program pulls students out of classes a few days a week to teach them an instrument. Many complained that the students were losing crucial classroom time. So the school board saw this cut as solving two problems, Matheson said.
So parents, through Parent-Teacher Associations and other organizations, pulled together and offered up an alternative solution.
“The proposal has more to do with how to structure the day so kids can take advantage of the band and orchestra programs during their normal music time,” Matheson said.
Kids would get to choose between instrumental music and normal music classes, Yuen said.
School Board vote
The Renton School Board will meet at 7 p.m. on Aug. 12 and on Aug. 26 to consider the $130 million district budget for next school year at the Kohlwes Education Center Board Room, 300 S.W. 7th St. The final vote is expected at the Aug . 26 meeting.
Organizers suggest that switching to such a program could save as much as $100,000, but it depends on how many schools adopt the new program.
“We’re taking that proposal serious. They did a really good job,” Matheson said. “Some of the numbers that the parents presented us are being looked into (to see) if they’re accurate.”
Although the program is small, with only 2 1/2 positions, parents suggest it’s vital for preparing kids for middle schools.
“If you take away the foundational year, there will be fewer kids who will participate,” in music programs Yuen said. She has four children in Renton schools.
Music education helps kids improve math and interpersonal skills, Yuen said. “We want to make sure our test scores stay high and our graduation rate doesn’t decrease.”
The program not only creates confidence in kids, but having a focus helps some perform better in other classes, said Ken Wallace, who has a son hoping to participate in the program this year and a daughter who completed the program.
It’s difficult for many kids to adjust to middle school, which starts in the sixth grade, Wallace said. Instrumental music “was the one class she (his daughter) really didn’t struggle with because it was something she was familiar with.”
Some suggested parents could raise the needed money for the program, but petitioners and district administration are wary about creating inequality in the school district and didn’t think it would be a sustainable funding method.
Reason for cuts
Most of the $5.3 million budget loss comes from Washington state’s elimination of Initiative 728, a voter-approved measure that gave more money to schools to reduce classroom sizes.
Though the district doesn’t plan to lay off continuing-contract teachers, about 72 teacher replacements will not get renewals to their one-year contracts, said spokesman Randy Matheson.
Only about $2.5 million in cuts came from not extending contracts, Matheson said. “We didn’t cut a single (continuing-contract) teacher.”
About 43 teachers will be displaced, some being asked to switch schools and teach different age groups.
Elementary classroom sizes are expected to increase by about two or three students, Matheson said.
All of the high school “C” teams, or the third strings, will also be eliminated.
“If the kids are good enough, they’re going to make JV,” Matheson said, echoing comments from coaches.
“What about the kids without a strong PTA that can host it?” Matheson said.
Parents didn’t find out about the cuts until the end of the school year, Wallace said. The timing gave organizers little time to respond.
The school district didn’t find out how much money they were going to get until summer, Matheson said.
“It’s pretty much guess work,” he said. “We’re just now letting the dust settle on what our budget is going to be.”
Though the budget is set, some details are still being worked out.
“There must be another way to make these cuts, because other districts around us have been able to do that,” Yuen said.
