The Report is in. The time is now. Raise your hand in support of music in our schools!

For the last year, an ongoing effort to understand the problems that plague the MBUSD Music Program has been underway. National expert Dr. John Benham's analysis of the music program and how it reached the point of untenability led to the formation of a Music Subcommittee to study the issue. That Subcommittee recently made public its Report and Recommendations for restoring the music program, and setting it on a path to sustainability. (Read Dr. Benham's Report, find a history of the Subcommittee and read its Report at MBMusicCoalition.org, "Parent Resources" tab).

The School Board has already begun discussing the budget for the 2021-22 school year. Despite the fact that music programs are in dire need of investment and support, we don't expect the Superintendent to include FTE (full time equivalent) hours for music instruction in his budget recommendations.

Our music programs can't withstand another year of neglect. The first phase of the Music Subcommittee's Report must be implemented now. We believe that there are sound reasons why the District should financially support its music program. The District has the money. It is a matter of deciding to fund music as part of a balanced approach.

That won't happen unless the community raises its voice, and urges the Board of Trustees to spend a share of our budget surplus on music. Please sign the petition, and add your voice to our call for an increase of at least 3.0 FTE (and no more than the 6.5 FTE) needed to adopt and implement the Recommendations in the Subcommittee's Report beginning in the 2021-22 school year.

To learn about other ways you can help in this effort, please visit https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/CXz97b8/SupportMusicEducation

To learn about other ways you can support the MB Music Coalition, use our resources, or find out about our upcoming events, please visit MBMusicCoalition.org.