The Death of Music Education

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   This is a summary of information released by DMPS on Friday.

Approximately 37.5 DMPS music positions will be eliminated in grades K-12 music. The total staff is around 80 teachers.

1.   The Des Moines District cut about 13% of all regular instructional staff, but 47% of the music staff.

2. The Des Moines music teachers make up about 4% of the total regular instructional staff, however they make up 14% of the cuts.

3.  1450 students are served at the elementary level for band and orchestra, we project that less than 1/3 of those students will start in middle school, and even fewer will be able to maintain involvement past middle school (due to staffing reductions or eliminations at the middle school).  This is research-based, not speculation.  The secondary programs that remain will disintegrate.

Same for vocal music - about 1/2 the programs at the middle level were cut, and elementary music will be reduced from 45 minutes twice per week down to 30 minutes once per week.  These reductions will greatly impact MS and HS enrollment, and be the ultimate demise of what will become the bleak existing programs.  Approximately 13 teachers (we estimate) will teach over 1000 students each on a weekly basis in K-5 general music.

4.  Demonstrate the effect on community connections  and fiscal impact (businesses, real estate) *does anyone want to investigate this for me?   Dozens of people are contacting DMPS stating they will move to the suburbs if music is cut. 

Talking points to consider when contacting board members or administrators (priorities the district claims to have used to make financial decisions regarding cuts):  

1.  Adhering to the District Ends (our graduate expectations).  Most cannot be met with the elimination of fine arts programming.  Here is a link to the DMPS Ends:  
http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/schoolboard/Endsbrochurerev09.pdf

2.  DMPS will Focus on Dropout prevention strategies.  We know these decisions will increase the dropout rate.  
 http://www.menc.org/supportmusic_cases/view/323
http://www.menc.org/supportmusic_cases/view/679
http://www.menc.org/supportmusic_cases/view/366

3.  Limited reductions or eliminations of educational programming.  Our elementary instrumental program serves 1450 kids, and our elementary general music program serves 15,000.  The reduction and elimination of these programs is certainly not limited, and by reducing these programs, the elimination may not happen this year, but it will circle the drain and eventually be eliminated. 

Other next steps:
The Downtown Business Alliance and Greater Des Moines Business partnership has been contacted about writing a joint letter to the Governor about fully funding 2% allowable growth.  

The IMEA Government Relations Chair will be personally delivering letters to the legislature next week.

The best clearinghouse for advocacy materials and statistics is at http://www.supportmusic.com/

A supporter will be creating an economic impact document - basically explaining that by cutting elementary instrumental music, fewer kids will choose it in middle school, and you will have to pay for additional staff down the road so that you have somewhere to put kids, so it is an economic benefit to have band/orch (lots of bang for the buck, so to speak).  

Lastly, here is a link to the DMPS budget, although it isn't very specific.  There is a link on the main page.
http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/

To see a list of teachers that have been reduced, go to the following link:

 http://www.desmoinesregister.com/assets/pdf/D215312835.PDF

Mark your calendars for March 30, April 6 and April 13.  March 30 and April 6 will be public budget hearings (location TBA), and April 13 will be the board meeting.  

The momentum needs to carry beyond next week to have lasting impact

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Bill Bergren Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Location: Des Moines, IA Online Status: Offline Posts: 123	Quote Reply Topic: The Death of Music Education Posted: 06 Mar 2010 at 09:26
	This is a summary of information released by DMPS on Friday. Approximately 37.5 DMPS music positions will be eliminated in grades K-12 music. The total staff is around 80 teachers. 1. The Des Moines District cut about 13% of all regular instructional staff, but 47% of the music staff. 2. The Des Moines music teachers make up about 4% of the total regular instructional staff, however they make up 14% of the cuts. 3. 1450 students are served at the elementary level for band and orchestra, we project that less than 1/3 of those students will start in middle school, and even fewer will be able to maintain involvement past middle school (due to staffing reductions or eliminations at the middle school). This is research-based, not speculation. The secondary programs that remain will disintegrate. Same for vocal music - about 1/2 the programs at the middle level were cut, and elementary music will be reduced from 45 minutes twice per week down to 30 minutes once per week. These reductions will greatly impact MS and HS enrollment, and be the ultimate demise of what will become the bleak existing programs. Approximately 13 teachers (we estimate) will teach over 1000 students each on a weekly basis in K-5 general music. 4. Demonstrate the effect on community connections and fiscal impact (businesses, real estate) *does anyone want to investigate this for me? Dozens of people are contacting DMPS stating they will move to the suburbs if music is cut. Talking points to consider when contacting board members or administrators (priorities the district claims to have used to make financial decisions regarding cuts): 1. Adhering to the District Ends (our graduate expectations). Most cannot be met with the elimination of fine arts programming. Here is a link to the DMPS Ends: http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/schoolboard/Endsbrochurerev09.pdf 2. DMPS will Focus on Dropout prevention strategies. We know these decisions will increase the dropout rate. http://www.menc.org/supportmusic_cases/view/323 http://www.menc.org/supportmusic_cases/view/679 http://www.menc.org/supportmusic_cases/view/366 3. Limited reductions or eliminations of educational programming. Our elementary instrumental program serves 1450 kids, and our elementary general music program serves 15,000. The reduction and elimination of these programs is certainly not limited, and by reducing these programs, the elimination may not happen this year, but it will circle the drain and eventually be eliminated. Other next steps: The Downtown Business Alliance and Greater Des Moines Business partnership has been contacted about writing a joint letter to the Governor about fully funding 2% allowable growth. The IMEA Government Relations Chair will be personally delivering letters to the legislature next week. The best clearinghouse for advocacy materials and statistics is at http://www.supportmusic.com/ A supporter will be creating an economic impact document - basically explaining that by cutting elementary instrumental music, fewer kids will choose it in middle school, and you will have to pay for additional staff down the road so that you have somewhere to put kids, so it is an economic benefit to have band/orch (lots of bang for the buck, so to speak). Lastly, here is a link to the DMPS budget, although it isn't very specific. There is a link on the main page. http://www.dmps.k12.ia.us/ To see a list of teachers that have been reduced, go to the following link: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/assets/pdf/D215312835.PDF Mark your calendars for March 30, April 6 and April 13. March 30 and April 6 will be public budget hearings (location TBA), and April 13 will be the board meeting. The momentum needs to carry beyond next week to have lasting impact
	Bill Bergren

Pat Harbison Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 678	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 2010 at 14:10
	Now Synergy REALLY has it's work cut out for it. Best of luck with your efforts. Let us know how we can help!

Glenn Roberts Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 21 May 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1137	Quote Reply Posted: 06 Mar 2010 at 17:57
	Bill, if you go to the MENC website there are a host of advocacy tools there. The community and music parents need to mobilize on this and fast. These are indeed tough times all around, but these cuts are disproportionate and unfair. *well, after I thought about it, and re-read, I see you've already been to MENC's site. I went into siege mode. As Pat said, if there's anything we can do to help... Edited by Glenn Roberts - 06 Mar 2010 at 23:11
	"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in Nature...Life is either daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller[

Derek Reaban Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 650	Quote Reply Posted: 08 Mar 2010 at 12:23
	Wow! It's terrible to see such deep cuts being proposed. Good luck with this Bill.
	Derek Reaban Tempe, Arizona Symphony of the Southwest / Tempe Symphonic Wind Ensemble<

John Sheets Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: Metro Detroit Online Status: Offline Posts: 891	Quote Reply Posted: 08 Mar 2010 at 13:09
	Likewise Bill... Keep us in the loop and let us know if there is anything we can do. For now I'll be thinking of your and your peers.
	"Trombones; damn it! Not breaking that musical phrase is far more important then your having to breath! - Jim Skura director of my community band.

Bill Bergren Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Location: Des Moines, IA Online Status: Offline Posts: 123	Quote Reply Posted: 08 Mar 2010 at 14:08
	There is enough blame to go around. A legislature that can't juggle the budget. A federal government that places undue emphasis on test scores. Media that won't let go of the idea that those yellow bastards are going to take all of the good jobs away from our kids. A superintendent that uses her positon as a bully pulpit. Administrators who's main priority is to keep students and parents happy. A system that forbids teachers to speak their mind with the threat of being fired. And last but not least, a significant number of complacent, incompetent teachers.
	Bill Bergren

Glenn Roberts Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 21 May 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1137	Quote Reply Posted: 11 Mar 2010 at 16:22
	Bill, one other thought I had. There are several (mine included) districts facing similar problems in northern NY. I wold bet this is not limited to just your and my areas, but that is not the point I am making. One of the local districts that is cutting staff is maintaining their full slate of extra curricular activites... to the tune of $350,000. That amount would more than cover the salaries & benefits of those teachers. This seems very, very, wrong to me. Extra curriculars should be the first to go. Save the programs that are credited for students; they serve to educate the kids, which is what we are in business for. Kids can play sports via their town rec departments, take dance at the local studio, and march in drum corps for marching experience. I asked our union president today what our total budget for extra curriculars is. She has put a copy of the budget in my box. It is extremely unpopular to go after those things, but keeping academic programs (and I include music & performing ensembles in that, BTW) is and should be the first priority. Trim the fat first. In a time when performance standards are in question, enlarging class sizes and reducing class offerings so you can save the football team seems a bit backwards, yes?
	"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in Nature...Life is either daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller[

Kelly Rossum Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Orchestra* Joined: 14 Nov 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Quote Reply Posted: 15 Mar 2010 at 15:08
	sorry to hear about this.
	Music is the easy part.

Glenn Roberts Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 21 May 2007 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1137	Quote Reply Posted: 23 Mar 2010 at 06:12
	We're trying to head it off at the pass, Bill. Our county educator's organization has written a letter to be published in the local newspapers detailing the impact music education has not only on students, but the school & community as a whole. These are tough times, and I fear it's going to get a bit worse yet.
	"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in Nature...Life is either daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller[

Bill Bergren Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Orchestra Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Location: Des Moines, IA Online Status: Offline Posts: 123	Quote Reply Posted: 24 Mar 2010 at 08:33
	Cuts need to be made. Workers from white to blue collar are taking pay cuts, taking days off with no pay. Everyone is making sacrifices, yet the idea of teachers and staff taking a pay cut has not even been considered. The only solution being considered is to somehow pour more money on the problem. I guess the decision makers should have been more involved in the arts so they could think creatively.
	Bill Bergren