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Boosters: Fergus bands in danger
Published Friday, May 9, 2008
The traditional marching band uniform could become a thing of the past in Fergus Falls.
Budget cuts are threatening many of the Fergus Falls School District’s extra-curricular music activities, according to members of the band’s booster club.
The booster club distributed a letter (click to view) at band performances this week suggesting that homecoming field shows, all-state band auditions, jazz, pep and marching bands are in danger of being eliminated in the 2008-09 school year.
The letter details the group’s concerns and possible options for maintaining current activity function.
Budget cuts have reduced the music staff from three positions to two for the upcoming school year, which will reduce the program’s capacity for extra activities.
At this point, no concrete plans have been made to cut programs, says Superintendent Jerry Ness.
However, extra band activities are in jeopardy, booster club members say.
Academic band courses offered through normal classroom instruction will not be effected by the cuts.
Currently, around 500 students in grades five to 12 are enrolled in academic and extra band activities. Although academic courses will remain accessible to students, parents are concerned that the removal of extra band activities may result in an overall decline in music enrollment.
In an effort to avoid cuts, members of the parent-based Band Boosters are launching a community campaign to help finance the programs. A letter, which was composed by members of the group and approved by the school board and superintendent, has been distributed to band parents. The letter details the group’s concerns and possible options for maintaining current activity function.
“We’re looking at what we are going to do and how we are going to make it happen,” said Band Booster member Bonnie Denzel.
The group is calling on parents, community members and local businesses to “sponsor a child” in the band department.
A $100 tax-deductible donation for each child enrolled in the school band would fill the necessary financial gap for the program. If money is raised before program decisions are finalized this summer the board will consider re-opening the music department position, said School Board President Matthew Lemke.
“(Money raised) would go into the general fund and, of course, if the Band Booster Club raises the funds and they want to designate it towards the band department, then the board will look at putting it towards the band department area,” Lemke said.
If the board accepts the donation for the band department, Lemke said hiring decisions will be made based on liscensure and seniority guidelines. For that reason the board can not guarantee that Kummrow would be the instructor rehired.
Band Booster members are encouraging those interested to make donations by May 16.
“We’re looking at being done by the end of May because that's when the job offers are starting to come in and districts are looking to fill those positions,” Denzel said.
If money is raised, the Booster group will present the donation to the school board. Although the donation does not legally bind the school board to allocate funds within the music department, Lemke said board members will follow through with their plans.
“If they raise the funds for the position, we’re going to offer the position.”
If the Booster group falls short of their $50,000 goal, the school board and administration will meet this summer to discuss program cuts.
“If it wasn’t raised, we would direct the administration to work with the music department with, ultimately, what would have to go,” Lemke said. “And you would have things that would have to be cut because there’s one less person there.”
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by FergusFamily (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is a dangerous precedent to privately fund public school teacher positions - in any area of study.
Posted by popster (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree FergusFamily. But what a dilemma for the school board! Their choice is to either accept the donation to save a popular program (and set a dangerous precedent) or reject the donation to face the wrath of motivated, supportive parents and dcereased opportunit
Posted by JoNz (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If only we had a Math Booster, or an Elementary Education booster, a Reading booster or a Science booster....we could save those teachers positions too!
Man what valuable opportunities THOSE kids are missing out on! If only we could raise some money, so to not upset the parents of kids who will never learn to read. Note the sarcasm. Figure out your priorities FF!
Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on May 15, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's sad that these cuts have to affect the arts in our school system. I know, "if they use it, they should pay for it"...But in a sense, "they" already are. The residents have been paying taxes all along and they were just asked to approve a Multi-Million tax increase to help refurbish the Fergus Falls School system. Yes, it certainly was needed , but since then Fees for certain school related activities have doubled and cuts continue to be the order of the day for this school district. Now again, the people are being asked for another "fee" or say goodbye to a band teacher and other music related programs. $100 for every child that's in band can be significant for many people today, especially if they have several children in band. I don't know if anyone proposing these cuts has noticed, but it's getting a little difficult for the average person to afford to gas up a car, put food on the table, afford medical insurance, make a mortgage payment, as well as pay for a never ending parade of "Fees". Maybe that's the problem. The "average" person isn't the one proposing the cuts. The city is giving the Golf course how many thousands of $'s, but we may lose a music teacher and many of the programs that go along with the music department. That seems like a pretty messed up picture. 500 children utilize this program. What would happen if another 500 children left the school district for other schools who's finacial situation's and overall climate are healthier? Every time something like this happens, it suggests that there is something wrong with this school district's administration. It can't all be blamed on the "State". Kudos however to the Fergus Falls Band Boosters. At least someone is trying to find a way to save Music Education in Fergus Falls. The money the city is giving the golf course could have funded this program for almost 3 years, and who knows, maybe by then the economy will have improved, gas prices may be down and pigs will fly.
Posted by fergusfallsmom (anonymous) on May 16, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would love to help out and contribute. Some of my best memories from school are the band experience. I would like that experience to be there for my children.
Posted by Elaine (anonymous) on May 18, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We have a very active Band Booster Club at the school my son attends. He is in the Marching Band, the Orchestra and the Jazz Ensemble. The funds allocated for band here is also minimal, although no positions have been cut so far. We only have 40+ band members (high school level), and 13 in the Jazz Ensemble, but the Band Boosters has to raise the rest of the money necessary for the program. They do that by selling food at the football games, a fish fry dinner, car washes, and, surprisingly successful, standing outside a grocery store playing instruments and askng people to donate to the bands. Also, we have just decided to make every band member responsible for raising his/her portion of the band budget. If they fail to do that, the parents are expected to contribute the difference. That became necessary as it was always the same people involved in raising money and that didn't seem fair. Also, a year ago, the school hired an alumna right out of college as new Band Director, and it has worked out well.
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