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Students and parents show their support for band and orchestra at Terrace Park Elementary I attended the Edmonds School Board Special meeting on Tuesday evening, March 19th. The primary goal of this special meeting was to review the results of the recent Balancing Act survey conducted between March 7th and 18th. Keep an eye out for the full results on the District's '24-'25 Budget page, available Thursday, March 21st.  I started attending school board meetings last year, when my student was a sophomore in high school. It was the threat to our music and performing arts programs that got me...

In that moment my vision became clear: music education should be considered a fundamental academic subject in school. Yet, in the state of Washington, budget cuts in recent years have threatened the presence of music education and performing arts in our public schools. Programs that were once nationally and internationally recognized, educators who are award-winning masters of teaching and promoting excellence are being deprioritized. Music seems to no longer be recognized as a major contributor to student achievement and overall school success, even though we hear story after story of how music saves lives, brings kids to school and drives up graduation rates. 

We fought last year. Hard. Despite our efforts, Mountlake Terrace High School lost Choir, one of two drama classes, our Percussion Ensemble and our Jazz 2 ensemble. Additionally, our Music Director has had to split his time teaching at both elementary school and the high school.  Needless to say, the cuts were impactful and defeating. We had an impassioned and impressive response from our parents, students and community that was beyond inspiring. But by the time we got involved, decisions to cut performing arts programs had already been made.  That experience and inspiration has kept me going. Over the past...

Remember last year when we learned of the budget cuts after they happened? This year we are again facing a budget shortfall and music programs are on the chopping block. The Edmonds School District has created an educational exercise to illustrate the '24-'25 school year shortfall, called the Balancing Act. The elimination of 5th and 6th grade band and orchestra are being considered. The elimination of these classes throughout the district WILL have huge consequences for years to music in middle and high schools. The Balancing Act mistakenly says that band and orchestra are in addition to (required) general music....