Dear Mr. Wilke and members of the ISD 300 School Board—

On behalf of the Band Boosters, we’re asking you to consider the impact that proposed cuts to the band will have on the short and long-term integrity of the program.

The decrease in band FTEs, and the related recommendation to eliminate or “group” additional lessons at the middle school level, is a primary concern. As you know, having strong instruction at the middle school level is critical to creating successful students who are motivated to remain in the program. Individual attention is necessary to build skills and assess individual aptitude – something that is hard to achieve in the context of a larger group or classroom. Most classes provide a forum for teachers to assess through individualized testing – lessons give band instructors the ability to assess individual progress and provide the guidance students need to improve. Nowhere is that more important than at a middle school level, where habits and skills are formed.

Our band instructors have outlined and presented a number of areas for consideration that weren’t considered as part of the proposed cuts. Their proposals (see attachment) don’t inhibit instruction or student learning. Though some concessions may be more palatable than others, they were offered in the spirit of keeping curriculum and student learning first and foremost, and in the spirit of offering to be part of the solution. Thousands of dollars in savings could be realized if some of these are considered.  As with other extracurricular activities, additional dollars could be raised through paid admission to concerts and additional fundraising.

As parents of band students, it’s critical that the district we choose for our kids has a strong music program. Music has a huge impact on academics (see highlighted AMC research  attached). The research reinforces that schools with strong arts programs perform better academically. Though our bands are comprised of a variety of students with varying interests, including athletics, there are many who don’t participate in sports. For some of these, band may be the ONLY outlet that helps them build on knowledge, teamwork, spirit and pride. Eliminating one of the options that proportionately serves so many on already limited resources sends a clear message about our commitment to the arts. For families considering our district for their children, it could impact their decision to choose our schools.

Our band program has been a shining star in the region. We’ve done much with few resources in comparison to area schools. Our students consistently gain high honors in competitions including solo and ensemble. They may not make the headlines that sports teams do, but the honors are no less significant. And they typically involve a larger number of students—giving more students an opportunity to excel in group and individual efforts.

Looking purely at the number of students engaged in band (roughly 50% of middle school and 23% of high school students--our numbers are up despite enrollment decreases), reducing instructors isn’t feasible if we’re looking at keeping our program viable. Our instructors have come up with options for reductions in their programs that eliminate costs. I hope the school board and administration will keep these in mind as alternatives to reducing instruction time. And in the spirit of fairness, I hope you will also consider making the reductions more fairly distributed to other groups—including all activities—so we’re all doing our part.

Last but not least, our bands build a sense of pride at school and sporting events. They are ambassadors to our community, supporting community and civic events.  Outside of school, these students continue to share what they’ve learn through their involvement in community bands, churches, musical theatre and more. We can’t imagine the void that would exist without them.

Thanks for your thoughtful consideration. On behalf of the Band Boosters,

Jay Clark                      Jeff & Sandy Jensen                 Lisa Kroner                  Val Krage

Sheri Kling                    Jake & Kathy Olson                  Anne & Arick Hendrickson