In Saturday’s (12/10) Sacramento Bee (California), Edward Ortiz reports, “Participation in orchestral and other music programs in the Davis Joint Unified School District is booming. The success of the music programs has been credited to the convergence of teacher commitment and the public’s desire to see programs flourish by approving a parcel tax. That parcel tax will expire next year when Davis residents will again vote whether to keep music programs funded. To date, the number of students participating in a music program at the elementary school level—a good indicator for later participation in music programs at the junior and high school level—has increased 20 percent since 2005, according to school district figures. … The robust numbers at Davis schools are an outgrowth of a crisis that the district faced in early 2008. The district announced that budgetary constraints would necessitate cutting back school music programs and laying off music teachers. … Parents and members of the Davis community managed to raise $240,000 by the end of the eight-week deadline the district gave residents and booster groups to make up for the shortfall. … Later that year, David voters passed Measure W, a supplemental parcel tax meant to make up for a $1.5 million decrease in state funds.”
Posted December 12, 2011
