Ales for the Arts! Mountlake Terrace Jazz is supporting the Edmonds School District Foundation’s fundraising efforts to save middle and high school jazz music classes next year! Our Jazz 1 and 2 are playing this Saturday, May 31, 4:00-5:30pm at Salish Sea Brewing Co. Boathouse Tavern.
Why is the Edmonds School District Foundation holding this fundraiser?
The Edmonds School District developed a short-term solution for sixth grade band by eliminating general music and offering instrumentation. Instrumentation is extremely vital because it is the most important foundation we can build for our students. This is a small win for our students – and that’s great. However; based on the proposed eliminations, this change could prove to be a futile effort.
2025-2026 School Year Eliminations:
We now know that eleven music and choir classes will be irrevocably eliminated and the inequities these cuts will create are unconscionable. Gone will be:
· Choir at Alderwood Middle and Lynnwood High Schools
· Jazz band and orchestra at Alderwood Middle School
· Jazz band at Meadowdale Middle and High Schools
Eliminating these six classes will effectively destroy music programs for the middle and high schools for students who reside within the Northwest and Northeast Quadrants of our District.
· Jazz Band at Brier Terrace Middle School
· Jazz II and 9th grade orchestra at Mountlake Terrace High School
· Choir at Mountlake Terrace High School benched a third year
Eliminating the feeder pattern will have dire consequences to the award winning MTHS jazz band programs as will squeezing 80+ students into jazz and orchestra classes for students who reside in the Southwest Quadrant of our District.
· Jazz II eliminated at Edmonds-Woodway High School
Our children need us more than ever, and they deserve to know that we stand behind them and the enriched lives they deserve to enjoy! We need to raise $434,000 by June 30, 2025. Can you please help?
Donate and more information at https://foundationesd.org/ways-to-give/save-the-arts/ales4arts/
