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Re: Strings program at Moscow Jr. High



Ms. Jordan:
This issue is already being addressed by Mr. 
Verdal, the junior high school principal, the 
administrative council (all building principals 
and other district administrators), and ultimately 
by the school board.  As with so many issues 
when money is tight, cuts have to be made 
somewhere.  That somewhere always affects a 
group of children.  The levy has passed, the 
board has reallocated money from a (much 
needed) reserve account, and best tightening 
this year will likely result in a carryover of funds 
to next year's budget.  We also know that the 
legislature may reconvene in June because of 
revenue shortfalls.  That could result in further 
"holdbacks" (reductions in the amount given to 
the district).  So, we must proceed cautiously 
before committing money to next year's budget 
beyond what is currently projected.  There will 
be requests for funds for a variety of projects, 
and the strings program will be one of them.  It 
will receive the same serious consideration as 
all the others.  

The actual cost of the program next year would 
be approximately $4,926 in salary (if this year's 
instructor continued in the position) plus about 
$760 for operating expenses. 

There may have been a misunderstanding over 
something Mr. Verdal said, but told me very 
clearly there is a spot for this elective.  If the 
funding is available there are enough students 
signed up to make an appropriate sized class 
and there IS room in the schedule for it.  I might 
note that we also have 110 students signed up 
for Spanish (another elective course) for which 
we currently have not budgeted an instructor.  
And there will be requests for more support 
service (counselor, music, PE for ex.) at other 
schools.  Lots of needs, lots of places we can 
benefit students.  A finite amount of money with 
which we can do it.  
Probably the most effective way to be heard is 
to write a letter to the superintendent or the 
board explaining what you think should be done 
and why.  There will also be a public hearing on 
the budget on June 18 at 7 p.m. at the Jr. Hi.

Mike Curley

On 13 May 02, at 23:50, hayfields@moscow.com wrote:

Date forwarded: 	Mon, 13 May 2002 16:29:42 -0700 (PDT)
To:             	vision2020@moscow.com
From:           	hayfields@moscow.com
Subject:        	Strings program at Moscow Jr. High
Date sent:      	Mon, 13 May 2002 23:50:57 GMT
Forwarded by:   	vision2020@moscow.com

I haven't seen whether anyone was aware that 
the
Strings teacher has been riffed or whatever they
call it.  This effectively kills the program at
the Jr. High. There currently is NO strings
program in the high school or elementary 
school.  
Although enough kids have already signed up to
fill an entire class, the Jr. High will not assure
parents that the class will continue. According to
Larry Verdal the problem is that they may not 
have
1. an open elective and 2. a teacher already in
the school willing to take it on. Although the
band teacher (I believe the name I heard is 
Tom)
is technically qualified to teach strings ( he has
the certification) he has always taught band and
my understanding is that he has previously
expressed a wish NOT to teach strings. Certainly
he is under no obligation to do so and I believe(I
may be wrong) that he is by inclination a 
drummer
with very limited strings experience.   Does
anyone out there know who I can contact to
strongly protest the non renewal of the 
FABULOUS
strings teacher and the effective elimination of
the program??? Ed Fiske will not call me back.  IT
should be stated that this whole program costs 
the
district 3500 dollars. Yep thats it 3500 dollars.

THESE KIDS ARE GOOD- COME TO THEIR 
CONCERT ON MAY
20th at Lionel Hampton Center and see and 
hear how
good they are!!!! 


Heather Jordan


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