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2/7/10 08:21 PM
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4 comments
Save the Music
Below is a message sent out to try and save the orchestra program of the Henry County School System. Please let the Board of Education know how you feel.
Dear Orchestra Parents,
After attending yesterday's School Board meeting, I am very concerned about the continued existence of the Orchestra Program in Henry County schools. The Board members will vote Monday (2/9) on whether or not to retain the Orchestra. It was obvious to me that from body language and wording that the vote will not be in our favor.
At this point, we, as a group (parents, students and other supporters), need to email or call the School Board with concerns. Be aware that the School System is looking to cut 41 million dollars from the budget. Orchestra is self-sufficient. The county pays for the instructors salaries only. I am not sure that the school board understands the importance of a string program to the students that are involved. I did not hear of any athletic programs (or band/chorus) being cut or even trimmed. I feel that a cut of all programs in order for all programs to survive would be more equitable in this hard economic time.
We need the board to understand that these are the top academic students that will apply to major universities. They need the string program to help them spring board their futures when competing for coveted college acceptance and scholarships. A statistic I have seen states that "20% of Orchestra students are in the top 10% of their class, even though > they make up less than 5% of the student population"...this is from a study performed by professors from Ohio State and Kent State (http://www.jstor.org/pss/3345761).
Here is the link to the Board of Education
http://www.henry.k12.ga.us/398board.htm Please send emails and make phone calls to express your concerns and ask questions of your elected officials. They owe us answers. My questions are:
1) What is the cost per orchestra student to the county vs. the cost per athlete? 2) How much does the school system spend to maintain the immaculate football and baseball fields? 3) What is the percentage of students that participate in orchestra that go on to enroll in college vs. the percentage that participate in athletics? 4) What is the percentage of students that receive scholarships vs. those that participate in athletics?
I have nothing against athletics and support them whole-heartedly. I certainly do not want to come across as attacking the valuable athletics programs at our schools. My concern is that these programs seem to have priority in situations like this, when maybe they should be more equal. I would be willing to bet that there was absolutely no study commissioned to look at the impact that orchestra has on a school system.
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This sounds typical of the Henry County Board of Education to wait until the eleventh hour to announce such a cut. This has taken many by surprise and that goes along with the type of system that is being run at the present time. Just as waiting until the last moment to let people know about the school bus routes.
The case here is poor planning on the part of the leadership and new leadership may be in order.
Just invited 36 Friends from around Henry County. What I am most concerned about is that our BoE has known for a couple years the tax base was dwindling. Last year they tried to get a $256-million bond for new schools. Thankfully the referendum failed. Now they are trying to cut $46-million from the budget -- that i...s what I call great forethought and planning! How about looking at adminstrative staff salaries, costs of athletic programs, the counseling staff at every high school... hey even Mr Surma can take a pay cut. The last thing to go on the chopping block should be beneficial programs for outstanding students!!! It is simply wrong to penalize students for the board's failure to manage their $500-million-plus budget.
Thiis email request to get answers for these parent was sent this morning:
This is an urgent message.
Date: Monday, February 8, 2010 7:18 AM
From: A very concerned tax payer
To: Ray.Hudalla@henry.k12.ga.us, Pam.Nutt@henry.k12.ga.us, jbp@preston-cleveland.com, Charles.Vickery@henry.k12.ga.us, Erik.Charles@henry.k12.ga.us
Subject: WE NEED TO KEEP OUR ORCHESTRA IN THE BUDGET
Size: 1 KB
Dear Board: The parents of Henry County need , want and deserve answer's to the
following questions before you vote today!
1) What is the cost per orchestra student to the county vs. the cost per
athlete?
2) How much does the school system spend to maintain the immaculate football and
baseball fields?
3) What is the percentage of students that participate in orchestra that go on
to enroll in college vs. the percentage that participate in athletics?
4) What is the percentage of students that receive scholarships vs. those that
participate in athletics?
Thank you,
A very concerned tax payer
The Henry BoE has known for some time that funding was in trouble. They should have already been at work trying to settle the problems of the budget. But no they spent their time last year trying to get a bond they did not need and let the job they are supposed to be doing slide. Sure the State has cut their money but they should have seen that one coming. We did why didn't they? Because they were too busy brooding over not getting the bond passed. Now they will feel the angst of the people and those children they are letting down. Remember election time is not far away.