What Happened To The Music?
The loss of Hercules elementary school music programs is projected to reverberate throughout the City at the middle and high school levels.
For the first time in recent memory, Hercules elementary schools are bereft of instrumental music.
During the 2009-10 school year, the West Contra Costa Unified School District discontinued funding for elementary school music programs. Hercules was the only city in the county that was able to continue its orchestra and band classes (although general music was eliminated) due to funds provided by the City.
Earlier this year, however, the City informed music teacher Jane Magid (who taught at Lupine Hills, Ohlone, and Hannah Ranch) that it would not be able to continue to finance her position. Efforts at parent- and grant-based funding were insufficient, and Hercules is left without instrumental music in its elementary schools.
“My career is leaving me and the opportunity to learn to play an instrument has left hundreds of elementary school students,” said Magid, who took a leave of absence from the district during which time she plans to pursue an alternate teaching credential.
A Save The Music campaign was implemented throughout the Hercules school system, and involved representatives from the Hercules Middle High School’s Hercules Music Boosters Association meeting with representatives from a group called Elementary Parents Supporting Music.
A posting from the two groups on Ohlone’s school web site states “We will be meeting in the Fall to organize fundraising and seek grants that can reduce the amount we need to contribute each month, but right now we need to demonstrate our commitment and convince the district to keep our excellent elementary music teacher, Jane Magid, teaching here in Hercules.”
However, the group’s primary goal of achieving a $40 contribution from parents of elementary school music students to keep Magid in a reduced capacity was not achieved.
The loss of the elementary school music program is projected to reverberate throughout the City at the middle and high school levels.
‘When you get rid of music at the elementary school level it’s only a matter of time before it travels up to the middle school and high school levels as well,” said Hercules Middle High School orchestra director Sharon Calonico. “I’m really worried right now. We’re working with the music boosters to think of ways to see how other schools that have lost their feeder plans have handled it.”
One possible solution is to create a before school or after school music class in which parents take up a collection to pay an instructor to teach students in school facilities with some instruments loaned from the district.
Such classes are held in other West County areas in which music programs have been cut and include schools in El Cerrito and Kensington.
However, there may be drawbacks to such a situation.
“I was always concerned that if you let people do it after school then it’s only a matter of time before the district says ‘let’s do that for everybody’ and gets rid of music altogether,” Calonico said. “It becomes a situation where there’s haves and have-nots, and people in areas with a lot of financial support find a way to make it work and keep it going.”
Interestingly enough, a choral music class has been added to fourth and fifth graders throughout the Hercules elementary schools as somewhat of a replacement for the loss of instrumental music.
According to Magid, the class and position were created for her due to unusual circumstances. Although she was a district employee her salary was being paid by the City, a fact which she believes contributed to the district’s neglect in giving her notification that she would be laid off.
“The district overlooked me and forgot to lay me off,” Magid said. “If you don’t do it by March 15 then you’re obligated to get a job next year. So they invented the job of choral teacher to make up for their mistake. The district doesn’t plan to continue that position beyond the school year.”
With the possibility of continued reductions in funding for electives in upcoming statewide school budgets, community action may be the primary difference between music programs and no music.
“That’s not equitable for our kids,” Calonico said. “They’re incredible musicians and have so much potential. I can’t do it all; I have a full time job here. I’m hoping our elementary school students come together and get a plan like other successful after school programs throughout the district.”
Taint Wright
7:06 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Learning to play an musical instrument, sing vocally, and understanding notes and theory are lifetime skills. I started in 4th grade, did my time at Cazadero Music Camp, participated in many vocal groups in college, and still perform actively. To have students lose this opportunity of learning music will leave a sad void for the future of all musicals, small ensembles, orchestras, and bands in the area. Think about it... imagine christmas caroling in Hercules 10-15 years from now... The oldsters are rockin' and having a blast because they know basic musicality and have learned the carols... meanwhile the youth of our future are silent because they were not taught or given the basics by a music teacher.
A 'Stille Nacht' indeed...
Sarah Creeley
8:32 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
All students should have an opportunity to create music. Without musical instruction how can musical geniuses discover their gift? Many years ago, in San Francisco, I taught a 4th grade boy, who had a learning disability. He entered a talent contest with his bucket and drumsticks and came in 2nd. People looked at him differently once they knew how talented he was. Many second graders I have taught in Hercules are already playing instruments in lessons provided by their families.
I want all children to have that experience, especially the kids who can't afford lessons. Hercules is very lucky to have awesome music teachers. I hope the WCCUSD will reinstate the elementary music program districtwide with monies saved from paying off the debt loan.
Kim
12:14 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
Although my child enjoys the choral music, I'm sad there is no instrumental music.
Susan D.Keeffe
1:03 pm on Thursday, November 24, 2011
So sad. I come from a musical family and began piano in first grade. Four of my relatives played professionally. My daughter played 3 instruments. It is my personal belief that music not only enriches it trains the brain and thereby aids in learning to read. It can provide a lifetime benefit. For older students its sometimes a reason to go to school. Students who play a musical instrument often do well in many other areas. This is a huge loss for our students.
G.C.
8:16 am on Sunday, November 27, 2011
There is something fundamentally flawed with how the bailout of the WCCUSD bankruptcy was handled.
The children paid the price for fiscal mismanagement that they did not cause. Was there no oversight provided by the County Superintendent at the time of the bankruptcy? The law states that the County is supposed to provide such fiscal oversight.
Who appointed Superintendent Marks and all other superintendents-the district school board? The school board is responsible for assessing the performance of the superintendent.
Here is a map of all districts in the county.
http://www.cccoe.k12.ca.us/about/map_dist.html
Although the county Office of Ed is responsible for oversight, the district (not the county) paid the entire price for this mismanagement?
The County Board of Ed Trustee for Hercules is Ellen Elster. Has she played any role in addressing any of our educational needs or concerns?
It is very unfortunate that music programs are not better supported. It is even more alarming that our district has made AP classes less accessible to our students. To hear that the bar has been set to a" 2.0" GPA for acceptance to the UC system is even more alarming.
How low are we setting the bar for our children?
Susan D.Keeffe
7:30 am on Monday, November 28, 2011
The School Board at the time hired Marks. They also approved his mismanagement. The county Has oversight. They also failed by approving Marks' budgets. The District did not actually go bankrupt, as a community group led by parents sued the state and won. But the state bail out loan was horrendous. While other districts have now also been bailed out none had the loan terms inflicted on WCCUSD. Every Superintendent since has worked to improve those loan terms. The only good news is that the district apparently is going to be able to pay off the debt almost 9 years early. The bad news is the California budget is in bad shape so funds for schools keep being slashed statewide. WCCUSD has had a state trustee who oversees the Budget as part of the Debt requirements. This will disappear once the debt is repaid. The district has been much more frugal and careful with 3 levels of oversight but still needed the Parcel taxes to make ends meet. Somehow they've held onto small class size and music but that may be ending and the taxpayers are tapped out. A complete overhaul at the state level on how California schools are funded is needed. That is a legislative fix and we know how well those folks work together!
G.C.
5:02 am on Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Susan,
Do you have any interest in running for school board? You know your stuff about education and governance and you obviously care for the kids. You have my vote.
David Isherwood
8:01 am on Monday, November 28, 2011
Parents were happy to send their kids to music classes when the City was picking up the cost (and adding it to the ever increasing debt) but were unwilling to pony up $40 to continue? I think that is a decent indicator of how important the parents really felt the music class was.
There is no doubt that WCCUSD is in need of serious help. The question remains, how can the City (and it's taxpaying citizens) substantially improve the performance of our local schools? I agree with Giorgio that the problem is much deeper than funding for a music class, but you have to wonder how important our fellow citizens think it really is.
If it was my nickel I would eliminate funding of all the high school sport teams and focus on classroom education. There are plenty of opportunities for student athletes to participate in sports outside of school if they are so inclined.
Glenn Abraham
9:27 am on Monday, November 28, 2011
Finally, someone I can agree with on school funding. There are so many minor (and expensive) programs, in the schools and Parks & Rec, that some group finds to be absolutely essential...but not sufficiently essential for them to pay for it themselves. I agree with David: I would eliminate ALL public funding of the noneducational fluff...football and all the rest...and focus on what schools are supposed to be for: education. And if some money were saved, then try to figure out a way to divert it out of the wretched West CC Cty school district and into the Hercules/Rodeo fire district. As we all now know, they're about to begin occasional shutdowns of our one-and-only fire station. Until we're able to pay for police and fire and (real) education, we shouldn't be obsessing over public funding of nice-and-sometimes-important stuff like clarinet lessons...lessons which the parents could pay for themselves if they really thought they were all that important.
G.C.
8:33 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
How can the district cut AP classes, yet still have sports programs? This makes no sense to me. Sports have always been very important to me, but academics are priority. PE is needed, but after school sports are a luxury this district cannot afford.
G.C.
8:38 pm on Monday, November 28, 2011
FYI
WCCUSD Community Budget Advisory Committee
Meeting Agenda
December 1, 2011 6:30 PM Alvarado Adult School
5625 Sutter Avenue, Richmond CA (Adult School Alvarado Campus)
Agenda Items
1. Welcome (5 min)
2. Review Agenda, Minutes, Calendar (10 min)
3. Chair’s Report (5 min)
4. Standing Updates (10 min) a. State/Federal Budget
5. Overview of long-term debts (10 min)
6. Mid-year Triggers (20 min)
7. Committee charter review (5 min)
8. Nominations for Membership (10 min)
9. Committee Roster Revision (5 min)
10. Public Comment and Written Correspondence from the Public (5 min)
11. Good of the Order (5 min)
12. Adjourn at 8:00 PM