The Latest Information  - a letter from a parent of a music student and a music alumni.

I met with Mr. Howard today.  I stated my case that I had heard that zero hour classes were going to be eliminated and that 3 band classes would be eliminated.  I told him that I thought that this process would irreparably hurt the band.  That zero classes were essential for band kids that my son took zero hour from 7th to 12 grade and that my daughter  is doing the same, and that even with zero hour that both kids had to take PE off campus due to schedule conflicts.  It is essential. 

 He stated that zero hour classes for band kids will not be eliminated.  He spouts numbers like there is no tomorrow.  He then stated that there is just not enough demand for band and that they will likely have to combine the JV and varsity jazz bands.  I stated that if that is the case then he will loose his program and my daughter and got up to leave.  He stopped me from leaving but it was a good tactic. 

 I told him that I do not believe that he has an accurate count of who wants to be in band next year.  He touted the registration numbers and said that there is just not the demand.  I told him that my daughter told me that others in the JV band are being told by their counselors that JV band will not be offered next year and that they should choose another class.  He said "I want to know who is saying this because it is not true."  I told him once again that his numbers are skewed.  That someone needs to go into the band room and ask the kids themselves, that if JV Jazz was offered, how many would be taking it.  I told him that is likely the only accurate way of determining demand at this point because kids have already been told it is not an option.  He asked, well who should ask that question, that is what I have a band director for."  Who should ask that question?  I told him that it is his school, I am not telling him who should ask the question, just that because kids have been told this information he does not have it correct.  He has VPs for grades, he can choose who should clear up the matter, if he really cares. 

  He brought up chorus and said that he thinks that there will be one in the fall but he may take the money for core classes.  He was on both sides of this one.  He said that it looked like the Music Boosters would be funding a joint class with Casa.  I did not know how to respond to that. 

 I told him that I know that things are very fluid right now, that we will wait until fall and we see what classes are available before deciding to stay at the school. 

I don't know that I made any progress but at least he knows we are out there and that we are Angry.

 

 

Choir Eliminated

PHS administration plans to eliminate choir next year.  There are currently 50 students enrolled in choir.  This is the only high school choir class in the Petaluma district.  There is also a small choir class at PJHS.  It was difficult to get the school administration to agree to have a choir class, but once it was approved, the class has grown in size year after year.  The decision to eliminate an entire curriculum needs to be a district decision, not a site decision.  We need to lobby the district to deal with this head on.  It is their responsibility to set policy and guidelines.

 Zero Hour Eliminated

PHS administration plans to essentially eliminate zero hour classes.  This affects Music students, 4 year college-bound students and any students who have schedule conflicts.  This is the time when students take core classes so they can take elective classes that meet later in the day for which there may only be one section available.  This is also the time that students take elective classes  that cannot be fit into their schedules otherwise.  For university-bound students this period can be the difference between being able to take elective classes or not.  For music students it can be their only opportunity to take music classes because of conflicts with other core classes.  The loss of zero hour can ultimately destroy the entire instrumental music program.  Beginning music students will be crammed into classes with advanced students.  This is discouraging to all levels of music students.  Eventually the administration could eliminate the music program entirely because enrollment is low.

 This also affects enrollment at PHS in general.  As parents of highly motivated students seek to provide opportunities for their children, they will move their students to other schools because they will not be willing to wait several years for a program to recover after it has been gutted.  This creates a downward spiral for music and for PHS. 

 

Equity across the district

A student's educational opportunities should not be determined by where they live.  Currently, Casa has 220 students enrolled in music classes.  PHS has 180 students.  This is consistent with Casa having a larger student body.  Yet music classes are being reduced 50 % at PHS (6 classes reduced to 3), and they are being reduced only 22% at Casa (9 classes reduced to 7).  A 22% cut is a hefty reduction and we do not think it should be cut any more than that.  The proposed 50 % reduction at PHS is simply unacceptable.  The district needs to look at the music program from a district-wide perspective.  Allowing local sites to determine curriculum offerings in a vacuum leads to inequity across the district.  The music program needs to be allowed to flourish at both schools.  Students on the west side of town should not be deprived of an educational opportunity because of local site decisions.  The district needs to take a hard look at the cuts being proposed at both schools and maintain equity across the district.  It is the school board's policy to maintain equity in the district, and they need to be reminded of that before they blindly accept the proposals from each school site.

 Here's a link to the  School Board power point presentation outlining their ideas on all the cuts.

Note: projected music enrollment for next year at PHS is already going down.  This is due in part to the fact that the counselors are telling students that these 3 music classes have already been eliminated, and they must pick other classes.  Such enrollment "drops"for next year cannot be allowed as an excuse to cut these 3 classes.

THE LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING before these proposals become official is APRIL 28, so we have 20 days to make a difference.

Here's what to do:

Plan to attend the Music Boosters Meeting at PHS on April 21 at 7:00.  We'll be ready with more information, mailers to stuff, and other ways to get the attention of the Board.

Plan to attend the  April 28 School Board Meeting - 200 Douglas Street,  6:00 p.m.

If you know a School Board member, talk to them personally and ask them to restore the Choir, keep Zero hour classes and maintain equity in Music programs for both schools.

If you don't know a School Board member, here's a link that has all their names and phone numbers: Call them anyway!

School Board Members

Write letters to all the School Board members.  We need LOTS of letters.  You can use the sample letters below to get started, or just write your own.  Don't want to mail a lot of letters?   Send your letter to me:

Mark E. Mooney
1124 Clelia Ct.
Petaluma, California 94954

I'll see to it that a copy of your letter gets to EACH board member by mail and that they are presented at the April 28 School Board Meeting.

Or Send your letters directly to the School Board.

Petaluma City Schools
District Office
200 Douglas Street
Petaluma, California
94952

Call your student's PHS Counselor and make an appointment with them!  GO see them in person and make it clear to them that there is no acceptable replacement for Chorus, Music and Zero hour classes. 
Counseling Center707-778-4779

Complete Contact List

Click here for an Action List for Music Parents.

Click here for Discussion Points.

Click here for a sample letter to the School Board about the Choir.

Click here to a sample letter to the School Board about Instrumental Music.

Finally, this link will take you to a bill that will make Marching Band a recognized P.E. Class

Have more ideas?  Have better ideas?  We want to hear you!   You can call Mark Mooney at 707 769-9963. 
I'll see  to it that your ideas are heard.