School Committee hears case for saving music program

Date: 6/21/2010

June 21, 2010.

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Managing Editor

LONGMEADOW -- Music -- specifically the elimination of the fifth-grade instrumental and choral programs -- was a major topic of discussion at the June 14 School Committee meeting.

Chairman Armand Wray told Reminder Publications between "20 and 30 concerned parents and students from across the district" came to speak to preserving this program, which Wray described as a "feeder" for the school system's middle and high school music programs.

Robert Homon, a Longmeadow resident who teaches music in Chicopee, and Michael Mucci, head of the high school music program, also spoke to preserving the fifth grade programs. Wray said the men each gave a presentation outlining the benefits of these music programs to students.

Longmeadow, Wray added, has the distinction of conducting a nationally recognized choral and band music program on the high school level.

Wray said the fifth-grade program was removed from the fiscal year 2011 (FY11) School Department budget in a cost-cutting move earlier this year. The elimination of eight school department positions, plus cuts to pupil services, instructional supplies, curriculum coordinators, text books, a clerical position and a 3/4-time position in the school's technology department were also part of the reductions, which currently total $369,000 in cuts.

At the start of the budgeting process in February, Wray said the School Committee had projected a cut of 34.35 full-time positions across the district. Working with the Select Board, by the time of the Town Meeting Wray said the board was able to restore all but eight of those positions. However, the committee was not able to save the music and other programs.

Wray said the School Committee has approached the Finance Subcommittee and requested that they "take another look at the budget and see if there is funding" to restore the fifth grade music program, and possibly some of the other cuts.

"Across the community there is strong support for finding the funding [for the music program] if possible," Wray said.

He expects the Finance Subcommittee to report back on its findings before the School Committee meets again on June 28.

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Wray also told Reminder Publications that the School Committee will be meeting jointly with the Select Board on July 12 to interview candidates interested in filling the School Committee seat left blank by the election of Christine Swanson to the Select Board.

"It is not an automatic process by [the Town] Charter," Wray explained. "By Charter the vacant spot must be advertises for 15 days. Then the remaining members of the Select Board and the School Committee get together and interview the candidates and no less than seven days later we vote on the candidates."

Wray said interested candidates could find an application for the School Committee seat on the Town Web site, www.longmeadow.org.