How Losing 4th Grade Orchestra Affects the Entire Music Community

The 4th-grade orchestra is the gate

way to all middle & high school music ensembles (band, choir, and orchestra).

While many students continue orchestra instruction into middle and high school, others decide to transfer their knowledge to learning a band instrument or singing in the choir. The skills and experiences 4th-graders have in the orchestra can transfer and prepare all students for music in middle school and beyond. However, if students don't get this opportunity until 5th grade, they are suddenly behind a year in their learning in ALL ensembles. This will eventually trickle up to the high school level, where some of the incredible, advanced experiences hundreds of students get to have may no longer be possible or feasible.

Additionally, many students from diverse backgrounds join the 4th-grade orchestra as it is an exciting curricular class to join with peers. In 5th grade, students have more options and activities, pulling them in different directions. It will be more challenging to engage all families, and some students will miss out on the opportunity to realize they enjoy music or that they see themselves as a musician. Our district is widely known throughout the state for its high-quality music program. Changing the starting year of orchestra instruction puts the quality of our program and the diversity of our classes in jeopardy.

4/18/22 Please help save 4th-grade orchestra!

Dear MCPASD Community Members,

What happened?

On April 6, the Middleton Cross Plains Area School District (MCPASD) administration notified 3rd-grade families that they had cut the 4th-grade orchestra. The MHS Band and Orchestra Boosters are now working to engage the community to help save this program that is so valuable to our students & our community.

How was this decision made?

The District faces a significant budget shortfall due to the Legislature's funding limits and a dispute about using pandemic funds (which has now been resolved). As a result, the District plans to cut approximately $600,000 in expenses for 2022-2023 and roughly $2,000,000 for 2023-2024 and going forward. This is why the District is considering a Fall 2022 referendum on increasing the funding for our schools. Read more about that here: https://www.mcpasd.k12.wi.us/page/2022engagementsessions. To get through this year, the District is looking to balance tapping into reserve funds, using some of the pandemic relief funds, and reducing expenditures.

The primary (full-time) 4th-grade orchestra teacher left in December 2021. It must look like a painless way for the administration to cut some expenses because there is no "body" in that position now but several qualified teachers are interested in this position for next year.

The Board has not approved this budgetary cut, and as it represents a significant shift in the school system's policy, it must be consulted and approve the budget. The Board is now considering whether to confirm the administration's recommendation (to cut the 4th-grade orchestra) or continue to support the 4th-grade orchestra.

Why is cutting 4th-grade orchestra a problem for our community?

1. The real but immeasurable consequences.

• The orchestra program is equitable, inclusive, and welcoming to all students. By removing this introduction to study a stringed instrument in 4th-grade, fewer students will find their "place" in peer groups, educational opportunities & experiences, and their school community.

• 4th-grade orchestra requires no financial or extracurricular commitment - all kids start together. By 4th-grade, many students have been playing a sport or learning to dance or play piano since a young age. These experiences require a family to commit time and financial resources to private lessons & clubs. But, almost uniquely in the 4th-grade orchestra, every student starts on the same page.

2. Fewer orchestra students will be in the District.

• By 5th grade in Middle School, kids are starting to identify themselves as "athletes" or "smart kids," "gamers," or any of the names to identify themselves. Not many have had the exposure to playing music to identify as a "musician." The open chance to start music with your other classmates, when very few have much experience with stringed instruments and when identities are still being formed, is unmatched.

• Introduction to strings in 4th-grade allows students to discover their talents as performers in a smaller classroom community before they move to the larger, more intimidating middle school environment. Unfortunately, students will lose this opportunity, including those that might be interested in the band, choir, or musical theater.

• This introduction to music is powerful. Studies show, and our experience locally confirms, that if we cut the 4th-grade orchestra, we will lose about 60% of the students in the high school orchestra and many others in the music curriculum. There are currently 810 MCPASD orchestra students — the second-highest student enrollment for a co-curricular activity. Band has the highest enrollment.

• When students cannot start in the orchestra program in elementary school, they may select other electives in Middle School and High School, which require more staffing and cost the District more money than it saves by cutting the 4th-grade orchestra!

3. A learning opportunity is taken away.

• One major issue is whether this is an operational or budget issue.

• For decades, the 4th-grade orchestra has been a foundational piece of MCPASD's commitment to music and the arts. It is based on our culture and the science about when best to start an instrument (3rd grade would be ideal, 4th-grade is the next best). The Board should be making policy decisions, not presented with a fait accompli. Simply put, the school board represents the community's voice and prioritizes the culture and policies of our schools. It is critical that the Board measure this shift with an eye toward the greater community and not casually change the program out of expediency in balancing a short-term budgetary shortfall. We hope this doesn't prove true, but IF the referendum fails, the Board will be looking at more restructuring than just the 4th-grade orchestra. But that situation should be addressed when it is an issue, not now when we have a one-year shortfall that could be covered in other ways.
  

4. It does not help the budget situation.

• When students cannot start in the orchestra program in elementary school, they may select other electives in Middle School and High School, which require more staffing and cost the District more money than it saves by cutting the 4th-grade orchestra! The "bang for the buck" in this program is likely unmatched.

• The budget shortfall is a Statewide issue exacerbated by the pandemic. The long-term solution is two-fold: pass the referendum in the Fall (for the 2023-24 fiscal year) and lobby the Legislature to change how schools are funded. In the short term, the Board and Administration need to find a one-year bridge before considering serious cuts and changes to our curriculum. Said another way, don't panic into error!
  

What can we do?

BE HEARD! We must stress how important it is to email the District leaders. They ARE listening. The fate of the 4th-grade orchestra program does hang in the balance, and it is only through community demand that we can save it.

1. Please read all of our communications via email and social media! We will frequently be sharing between now and April 25! We know it will be a lot, but it will be essential information.

2. Please save the date to attend the next Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 25 at 7 pm at Kromrey Middle School.

3. Please write a letter to our District leaders.

• Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue: dmonogue@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

• Deputy Superintendent Sherri Cyra: scyra@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

• Director of Middle School Education Keith Schneider: kschneider@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

• Director of Elementary Education Marybeth Paulisse: mpaulisse@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

• To mail all 9 Board of Education members at once: board@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

• Suggestions for your letter

  • Personal stories about how 4th-grade orchestra positively affected your child

  • How do you feel about the District administration making this decision without considering the long-term consequences?

  • Importance of music in the schools and community

  • Equity of the situation: The desire to have this opportunity for an equal playing field and introduction to the orchestra at a time in a student's life when it really matters.

We appreciate your support.

Sincerely,

MHS Band & Orchestra Boosters

4/14/22 - Last Call for Marching Band Registration

Hello everyone,

Last call for marching band registration and fees! Registration and fees are due TODAY 4/14.

Please be sure to visit the registration and fees page to sign up for the 2022 marching band season! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns to Mr. Rothacker at erothacker@mcpasd.k12.wi.us or visit our marching band page on our booster website.

So great to see colorguard and percussion at their first meetings this last week. There is still time to check out practices for colorguard and percussion if you haven't already. Colorguard will be meeting today at 4-6:30pm, and percussion at 7-9pm at the high school music wing.

Keep an ear out for a potential run through of some of the music towards the end of the year for an opportunity to check out your marching band instrument (if applicable) and meet the rest of the marching band!

--

Eric Rothacker

Music Teacher & Band Director

Middleton High School

608-829-9683

erothacker@mcpasd.k12.wi.us