Keep On Fighting For Music!
May 1, 2023: We need you to email the Edmonds School District Superintendent tonight! We have a real opportunity and a short window of opportunity to divert some FTEs to our music classes.
The teacher’s union bargained with the school district this afternoon and 4 FTEs just might be given back to schools, possibly music classes. We could use at least .2 of those, if not .4 for two classes!
Email Superintendent Rebecca Miner at MinerR@edmonds.wednet.edu tonight as the decision will be made tomorrow, May 1. CC the board too. Include KatimsN@edmonds.wednet.edu; Nobleg@edmonds.wednet.edu; ChaseCa@edmonds.wednet.edu; SmithK382@edmonds.wednet.edu; KilgoreD952@edmonds.wednet.edu
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Despite current efforts the past few weeks, Mountlake Terrace High School will still not have Jazz Ensemble 2, Percussion Ensemble, and Choir classes next year. Throughout the district, the below listed impacts still hold true despite a vote last week to add more teachers by the Edmonds School District Board. Contact information for the school board and superintendent, and our state representatives are below.
* 8 of 12 High School music teachers are being surplussed for next year, with a reduction of 23% of all High School music classes (in addition to the cuts over previous years).
* District is scheduled to have only two full-time High School Music positions in the entire district next year. Some of these cuts are being made because of reduced enrollment numbers, but many aren’t.
* The music numbers at Lynnwood High School and Meadowdale High School increased for next year, yet they are reducing .4 FTE and .6 FTE respectively.
* The music numbers at Edmonds-Woodway and Madrona remain stable, yet they are cutting .4 FTE and .3 FTE respectively.
* There will be no Choir options at MTHS, BTM or Madrona K-8 next year.
* In addition, the only Middle School orchestra at Madrona K-8 has been eliminated (with 28 students enrolled).
* Meadowdale Middle school cut a section of 7th grade band, and now has 84 students enrolled in the one remaining section – the solution, reduce the number of students or cut the Jazz band to divide the 7th grade band into two sections.
* The MTHS Jazz 2 band placed first in their division at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival yesterday (over 18 other ensembles) – That fully enrolled class for next year is scheduled to be combined with other band classes. A similar solution is proposed at EWHS and MDHS.
* LHS JE1 &JE2 are currently collapsed into one section 81 students in one jazz band.
We need you to contact our state and local leaders today!
We need you to take action today and write your state representatives!
This current state legislative session closes Sunday, April 23, and our representatives must hear from you about school funding before it closes. This is how we save the music!
Budget cuts are actually caused by the state legislature consistently underfunding our public schools and creating these budget deficits in the first place.
When legislators cap special education funding at 13.5% or 15%, when they fund less than half of student transportation needs, when they underfund teacher salaries, when they underfund art and music classes, budget deficits are the result.
Declining enrollment shouldn’t lead to program cuts. You don’t eliminate band just because the district has a few less kids. If anything you need to ensure those programs remain in order to stem further flight from the public schools.
How to contact your state representatives and support funding education?
You can do so on the Action Network. It’s easy to use. Enter your address, customize the template email, and your email goes to your state representatives.
Or….find your state representative below and let them know how you feel about public school funding.
- Letter Templates. Feel free to use these templates to contact individuals below.
- Letter to State Representative – this template can used to contact your state representatives. Contact them by Sunday, April 23.
- Letter to the Board – this is template can be used as is or edit to meet your needs.
- Student Letter to the Board – these are questions to help your child write a letter to individuals below.
- Email your State Representative. A large portion of our budget issues comes from the state not appropriately funding special eduction. As a result of the state’s poor decision, school districts have to divert funds from other programs to special eduction. The state fully funding special education, as mandated, does help our situation. Find your state representative or select below.
- 1st District
- Senator Derek Stanford: derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7600
- Representative Davina Duerr: davina.duerr@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7928
- Representative Shelley Kloba: shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7900
- 21st District
- Senator Marko Liias: marko.liias@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7640
- Representative Strom Peterson: strom.peterson@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7950
- Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self: lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7972
- 32nd District
- Senator Jesse Salomon: jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7662
- Representative Cindy Ryu: cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7880
- Representative Lauren Davis: lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov, 360-786-7910
- 1st District
- Email the Mountlake Terrace High School Principal and Vice Principals. The official decision on what stays and goes is right here. Show your support for Darin Faul, Gintare Seiger, and the Mountlake Terrace High School Music Program. Communicate positively what the program means to you and impacts it’s had on your life. Be kind but passionate.
- Principal Greg Schellenberg: schellenbergg721@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Vice Principal Dan Falk: FalkD@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Vice Principal Kathleen Daspit: daspitk783@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Email the Edmonds School District Board and Superintendent to show your support for Mountlake Terrace High School Music, the impact music has had on your life, and that the budget cuts proposed are unacceptable. Encourage the Board to look more closely at district administrative positions and departments for savings. They need to stay out of the classroom.
- Edmonds School District Board
- Nancy Katims: KatimsN@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Gary Noble: Nobleg@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Carin Chase: ChaseCa@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Keith Smith: SmithK382@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Deborah Kilgore: KilgoreD952@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Edmonds School District Superintendent
- Rebecca Miner: MinerR@edmonds.wednet.edu
- Edmonds School District Board
- Write a letter to the editor at MLTNews.com, My Edmonds News, and Lynnwood Today. Contact Teresa Wippel, teresa@myedmondsnews.com, with your letter of support for music.
View the Meeting with Principal Schellenberg on the Proposed Music Program Budget Cuts
In The News
- KIRO, April 17, 2023 – Edmonds School Board to address $15M in cuts that would end some music, art classes
- My Northwest, April 19, 2023 – Stakeholders upset about $15m budget cuts at Edmonds schools
Our Story
April 10, 2023. Edmonds School District is proposing significant staff reductions next year. Today we learned that the Mountlake Terrace High School Music Program will cut two band classes (out of five) and the only remaining choir class at the school. In addition, the after school drama class will be cut.
Our students are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic– academically, socially, and emotionally. There are holes in their learning; many are anxious, depressed, and/or stressed. We are seeing behaviors we haven’t seen before due to students struggling to manage their emotions and/or seamlessly interact with others.
Students in the music program have expressed how it has literally saved them from quitting school because they had a place where they felt connected to others and a safe place to be. The arts bring them together with similar goals. Studies show that students who play a musical instrument perform better in all other core subjects, as well as having better creativity, problem solving, and social skills. Music helps students express emotion and release stress.
Budget cuts should be made as far away from our students, classrooms, and buildings as possible! District administrative positions and departments should be trimmed to restore as many instructional positions to buildings as possible.
You can learn more about the current budget by reviewing
What You Can Do!
Share
- Like our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages so you can ‘like’ and ‘share’ all of our updates. We need to spread the word.
- Download and display the “Save The Music” logo on your social media profile to demonstrate your support.
- Download a “Save The Music” full page, 1/2 page, or 1/4 page flier to display at home, work, in your car, or anywhere that makes a statement.
- Share your story with us. Feel free to reach out to us directly at savethemusic@mthsmusic.org or cc savethemusic@mthsmusic.org when contacting the principal, School Board, and state representatives. We want to share your stories to encourage others to speak up. In addition, we will print everyone’s email and give them to the principal and Board of Directors.
Connect
- Join our mailing list to receive updates and opportunities to support the music program.
- Like our Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages for updates.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support! The Mountlake Terrace High School Music Community is strong and mighty! We have a voice and we will be heard!
Monday, April 17 – Meeting with Mountlake Terrace High School Principal
Join us at 6pm in the Mountlake Terrace High School Theater to meet with Principal Greg Schellenberg.
From Darin Faul – a personal request
If you’re familiar with the band program at MTHS you know I’ve asked a lot of you through the years! Money, attendance, support, practice, effort, etc. My requests have been almost entirely for the students and for the program. This is different. I’m asking you to show up for me.
And if you know me at all, you know this makes me extremely uncomfortable.
Two of my five classes of band are to be cut next year. It’s a numbers issue. My numbers are low and do not support an average of 30 kids per class the district is pushing. I don’t know that I/we can win that battle if they think only of the numbers of kids in the seats. They are low for a number of reasons, the primary reason being the pandemic. Numbers are better next year than this year and the future numbers look to be even better based on the middle school numbers. We just need more time to recover.
Our parents and students are advocating at the district level against cuts to staff generally and especially against cuts to arts programs through attendance at the board meeting Tuesday, letter writing, awareness building and advocacy.
As we’ve been working on all of the district level stuff this week, I didn’t think too much about myself. However, what I tried to not think about is now front and center. Perhaps the reality of it took a few days to sink in. Perhaps it was receiving my “surplus notification” last night. Whatever the case, it hit me now.
Anyway, I fear the only thing that can change this is folks stepping up on my behalf to make a case that I am worth keeping: as a teacher, as a leader of the bands, as the builder and now rebuilder of the program post-covid. As the person who hopefully brought something to you and your family that was special, unique, transformative, magical, etc. What it meant to you is not for me to say… But it seems the time is now for you to share that I’m worth keeping full time for future students in our community. That I am the one that needs to keep this program going, full-time, in one building. That what we have in fact DOES stand out in many ways from a typical high school band experience and certainly a typical high school experience without band.
I hate to ask it but I’m asking it. Can you please show up on Monday, April 17th, at 6pm to show your support? To try to stop these cuts? To help the principal have the courage and wisdom to implement the creative solution out of this numbers mess that I presented to him that would keep me on full time?
The principal has only been here about 5 years, the last three of which were impacted by Covid. He doesn’t get what so many of you get. Your attendance would make a big impact. He will share with us the financial challenges he is facing. And then we will share with him. I’ve reached out to some “outside” folks inviting them to share their perspective on MTHS Bands and I hope to provide an opportunity for additional people to share as well. Mountlake Terrace High School Theater, 6pm Monday Night.
April 18 – BIG DAY at the School Board Meeting!!!
View the video from the April 18 School Board Special Meeting
Attend IN PERSON the special School Board meeting on Tuesday, April 18th, at 6:30 at the District Office. At this meeting the School Board will hear the first reading of the “reduced education plan” for next year.
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 @ 6:30pm
Boardroom of the Educational Services Center [Subject to change-check social]
20420 68th Ave West, Lynnwood, WA 98036
***Interested in providing public comments at the April 18 meeting? Arrive by 6pm to sign up.
***Click here to submit a comment online or speak virtually before 3:00 pm PST on 4/18.
Band starts playing at 5:30pm.
Wear red, bring an instrument, make signs! Even better, attend AND sign up to make public comments. Share with the Board and Superintendent the importance of Mountlake Terrace High School Music and how it meets the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students. Tell your stories. We have got to fight this with our full hearts and not allow them to think our arts are disposable!
April 25 – BIG DAY at the School Board Meeting!!!
View the video from the April 18 School Board Special Meeting
Attend IN PERSON the School Board meeting on Tuesday, April 25, at 6:30 at the District Office. At this meeting the School Board will vote on the “reduced education plan” for next year.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 @ 6:30pm
Boardroom of the Educational Services Center
20420 68th Ave West, Lynnwood, WA 98036
Band starts playing at 5:30pm.
Review the meeting agenda at https://www.edmonds.wednet.edu/…/schedule-of-board… [click the Agenda of Business link]
More information about providing comments on our Facebook post.
Wear red, bring an instrument, make signs! We have got to fight this with our full hearts and not allow them to think our arts are disposable!
We’re sharing specific information about cuts to music in Edmonds School District if the proposed budget is approved:
* 8 of 12 High School music teachers are being surplused for next year, with a reduction of 23% of all High School music classes (in addition to the cuts over previous years).
* District is scheduled to have only two full-time High School Music positions in the entire district next year. Some of these cuts are being made because of reduced enrollment numbers, but many aren’t.
* The music numbers at Lynnwood High School and Meadowdale High School increased for next year, yet they are reducing .4 FTE and .6 FTE respectively.
* The music numbers at Edmonds-Woodway and Madrona remain stable, yet they are cutting .4 FTE and .3 FTE respectively.
* There will be no Choir options at MTHS, BTM or Madrona K-8 next year.
* In addition, the only Middle School orchestra at Madrona K-8 has been eliminated (with 28 students enrolled).
* Meadowdale Middle school cut a section of 7th grade band, and now has 84 students enrolled in the one remaining section – the solution, reduce the number of students or cut the Jazz band to divide the 7th grade band into two sections.
* The MTHS Jazz 2 band placed first in their division at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival yesterday (over 18 other ensembles) – That fully enrolled class for next year is scheduled to be combined with other band classes. A similar solution is proposed at EWHS and MDHS.
* LHS. JE1 &JE2 are currently collapsed into one section 81 students in one jazz band.
Mountlake Terrace High School Music Boosters 
My grandson is in Band…it has been his main lifeline after covid.
My thoughts?
We have depression and a need to express ,lessen screen time.
We NEED JOY !
Solution?=SINGING/DRAMA/MUSIC /DANCE
BAND!
Cut the counsellors and therapy sessions,you have answers to what ails our children right before your eyes.
YOU CAN SEE IT WORKING ! DON’T MAKE CUTS TO THESE PROGRAMS!
DANCING
Please save the music programs.
All our kids thrived in the music programs at MTHS. It is where they made friends, gained confidence, and learned skills they have used and enjoyed their whole lives! Very few kids can make the sports teams (40 kids out of 4000 can make the basketball teams?) but hundreds of students participate in choir, orchestra, theatre, and band.
What’s next? Stripping “basic education” back to just readin’, ritin’, ‘n rithmatic? Surely as a society in the richest nation in the world we can do better than this for our next generation?? Where are our priorities? Please reconsider…and perhaps start a statewide lawsuit to compel Washington lawmakers to live up to their constitutional duty to provide proper education to all children in this state. Property taxes are at an all time high. I haven’t heard that the lottery has collapsed (wasn’t that sold to us as the funding answer for schools?). There has to be an alternative to stripping so many vital programs from schools. Administrators and school districts across the state need to band together to demand a better solution than this death spiral of program cuts.
Please keep all the music programs at the high school. Music embraces all cultures and ethnicities. It gives our children a positive place for artistic expression.
Music is so much more than an elective, more than a hobby. It’s an opportunity to fully grow the seed of a child’s passion. It’s an opportunity for a child to find them self in a world full of judgment and constant movement. Music has essentially saved me and many I know. All school districts need to keep and value and invest in music programs.