BOTHELL, Wash. — The fight is on for parents in the Northshore School District to save the fifth-grade band. Families worry further cutting the program will force it to dissolve in years to come.
Facing a budget shortfall of $26 million, the Northshore School District voted to eliminate the fifth-grade band and orchestra. The district said it is a very tough decision, but it will save the district $780,000 per year.
However, since the budget is not final until July, parents hired an expert to try to help convince district leaders to go a different route.
Parents heard a presentation from John Benham on Saturday morning. He filed a 67-page analysis report on the music program.
"They're not only going to destroy their music program, but they're not going to balance their budget," Benham said.
Benham’s worked with 400 districts around the country to save music programs.
He found that because band teachers can hold bigger classes, eliminating the program could require the district to hire back more teachers. He said that would eliminate the cost savings of cutting the program.
"When you start band and orchestra later than grade five, you lose 65% of your participation within four to five years," Benham said.
Benham’s analysis suggested the program could dissolve in about four years because participation from students would continue to decline.
Parents from other districts are keeping a close eye on the Northshore program, too. A few parents from Edmonds School District, where cuts to the music program are also proposed, showed up to the Saturday meeting.
To illustrate what the program has bred, students from Inglemoor High School performed at the meeting inside the Kirkland Performance Center.
"Music, especially being able to have that collaboration at a young age, is something I've been able to find a home in," senior Nayantara Vyas said.
The Inglemoor High ensemble advanced to the state contest next week. Vyas and fellow senior Jeromy Neese started in the Northshore Elementary orchestra in fourth grade.
"Unless you do have private lessons, which aren't really an option for everyone, the likeliness of you going through that and picking it up in middle school is really low," Neese said.
Kindergarten through fifth-grade students would still have access to general music classes. Students can join band, orchestra, or choir in sixth grade.
Some families plan to speak up at the next board meeting on Monday. However, parents said they’ll need even more support to save the program.
