“This is about an erosion of financial support in the state of Minnesota.”

Sue Bruns

Board member

 

Parents and students spoke out against the district’s proposal to cut fifth-grade band, increase class sizes and merge special-education staff into district positions, resulting in 10 paraprofessionals cut from the special-education program.

 

By Joanna Miller

Staff Writer

 

The Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board faced the music Monday.

After students from the district’s fifth-grade band performed for the School Board as part of Music in our Schools Month, the board hosted a public discussion of proposed budget cuts that include the elimination of the fifth-grade band and chorus program.

The board presented the potential cuts Feb. 26 and requested public feedback Monday. It will take action April 9.

Band Director Dianne Anderson told a full house that “this is where it all starts,” motioning to the musicians.

Anderson’s comments were echoed by many concerned students, parents and citizens.WestWood Elementary Parent Teacher Club (PTC) co-president Laurie Farnen of Savage said the five PTCs collaborated to provide funds to save some programs on the chopping block. “We felt we could come together and offer some budget help with this,” Farnen said.The district’s five PTCs voted to donate $41,264 to save some items the district plans to cut.The money would be used to save the fifth-grade Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center trip ($30,421), with about $6,000 collected from each PTC.

The PTC would also cover a $5,538 elementary band stipend and a $5,305 choir stipend.

Parents also suggested raising band participation fees from $45 to $70 and forgoing supplies for a year ($3,000) as ways to offset costs.

With those suggested changes, the district would still need to cover an estimated $39,788 to continue the music program.Board Member Sue Bruns said recent visits to PTC meetings had made a difference in what parents understood about the lack of funding starting at the state level.

Bruns said PTCs should not be asked to fund teaching positions. “What became very clear was their proper role was not in staffing,” Bruns said.

Making cuts is not a local issue, she added. “Our growth has helped us mask it all of these years…This is about an erosion of financial support in the state of Minnesota.”

Lisa Prohaska, Grainwood Elementary PTC co-president, asked the board to consider how music education impacts other development.

“Band is like a team…Fifth-grade is a great time to start that,” Prohaska said.

If the district cut the fifth-grade music program, it would be the only district south of the river to not have a band program at that grade level, she said.

“We’re going to shy away people from coming here,” Prohaska said. “There will be no musical performance in the elementary schools to inspire young people.”

Prohaska’s son, fourth-grader Joshua, took the microphone to share his own feelings.

“It would make me very mad, disappointed and sad that I’m missing something special. Without music to play, life just doesn’t flow or go as smooth,” Joshua said.

Superintendent Tom Westerhaus said while bands may currently be in place at the fifth-grade level in other districts, many other schools also face steep cuts this year.

Older band students spoke out about favorable past experiences.

Prior Lake High School Band secretary senior Ashley Burt, band member sophomore Alex Burt, and band president Hannah Lawman unrolled a petition signed by high-school students.

“It was actually quite astonishing how outraged the high-school students were,” Lawman said of the fifth-grade band program ending.

Board Member Eric Pratt’s children also spoke out against the cuts.

“It’s a great experience for kids,” said Cameron Pratt, a sixth-grade percussionist. “It’s a great place for kids to have a love of music.”

Freshman Jacqueline Rupp displayed petition posters from Hidden Oaks and Twin Oaks middle-schoolers.

“Tears will come if you cut this,” Rupp said. “There are so many other creative ways to solve budget deficits.”

Beyond band

While the band brought numerous supporters to the meeting, lesser-represented groups concerned about class sizes and special education spoke just as passionately.

Parents of children with special needs pointed out that their families bear financial hardships for instruction outside of the classroom.

Parent Dec Lee of Prior Lake, who has two children, one with autism and one with dyslexia, said even parents who pay for additional instruction for children with special needs require school support.

“Remember what you’re looking at with special education: are they going to be able to do the basic things?” Lee said. “When I look at the budget cuts, I don’t see cuts in honors programs.”

Lee said the district has placed accountability for low test scores in special education on the students, rather than on a lack of instructional support. “I think it’s really disingenuous of the School Board,” he said.

Westerhaus said while 10 paraprofessionals are being cut from the special-education program, it relates to the merging of former Minnesota River Valley Special Education Cooperative staff into school district staff positions.

He said all individual education plans (IEPs) for special-education students will be met, as it is mandated by state law.

“They’re trying to create greater efficiency and not double up,” he said. “Children who need a para will be receiving one.”

Parent Tammy Murr of Prior Lake has three students in the district and a pre-schooler. Murr has a band student and a student with a learning disability in her family. She said the focus shouldn’t be on certain groups, but on overall class sizes. “It’s our job to educate all children,” Murr said. “Our primary concern needs to be across the board and at all abilities, not just pegging certain groups.”

“You’re a student before you’re an athlete; You’re a student before you’re a musician,” Murr said. “I value what the athletic and music departments have to offer, but you really need to teach the basics.”

If class sizes increase from the mid-20s to the 30s, Murr said she thinks it will have a negative impact. “If they can’t get class sizes down, they need to get paras in the room,” she said.

Based on the budget cut predictions, her family is looking into other educational options.

“My husband and I are talking about it,” she said. “You have to do what you believe is best with your kids in mind. I can’t say where that will take us next year.”

Jeff Goldy, a parent of two Five Hawks Elementary students, asked the board to reexamine class sizes as well.

Class sizes “ought to be the No. 1 priority,” he said.

He noted that some states have a mandatory cap on class sizes that “contrast pretty starkly with what we’re proposing this evening.”

“We need to look harder at alternative ways of funding for these activities and fund teachers we need for our schools,” Goldy said.

He challenged the board on the need for Pre-AP and International Baccalaureate program spending at the middle schools.

He also turned the conversation to state-funding issues.

Goldy did point out that some state funding goes to private education and asked why that funding wouldn’t go to the public school system.

“I disagree with that comment,” Westerhaus said of a private school funding gap. “That state law has been in place for many years.”

Westerhaus said those tax dollars support textbooks and educational services in private schools. “These families are taxpayers, as well,” he said.

Kristi Mussman, district communications specialist, said the public school system only serves as a financial conduit to transfer education-related funds from the state to private schools. The funding is used for educational purposes, she said. The public schools do not have access to these funds.

Goldy urged parents and concerned citizens to contact their legislators.

“I’d ask parents and board members to send e-mails to their state representatives and senators,” Goldy said. “Let’s see what we can do to get them energized to do the right thing for us.”

Westerhaus and Board Members Sue Bruns and Eric Pratt said the crunch between mandated requirements and funding from the state has been frustrating.

Board Member Dick Booth said it is times like this when the board could say “yes” to items if it had a positive fund balance.

“Our checkbook is in the red,” Booth said. “That’s the reality of our district. We all believe dearly in the education of our children. It’s hard to say, ‘No.’”

Board Chairman Michael Murray, along with the board members, thanked the participants for sharing concerns.

“We’re very appreciative to hear from the community,” Murray said. “This isn’t a fun or easy decision to make for any of us.”

Westerhaus said while the cuts are disheartening, the community response is encouraging.

“I’m really appreciative of this community. They’re not questioning and challenging why we’re having to do this. They’re challenging which cuts we’re having to make,” Westerhaus said. “This is a difficult time for the School Board. They’re grappling with it all.”

 Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com.