Fine arts graduation requirement stresses facilities

Southeast High School choir packs tightly into their classroom during practice. Photo by Mark Mohesky

One of the issues the bond issue plan will address is upgrading fine arts facilities. The district has very popular fine arts programs and enrollment in those programs keep increasing. But many of the district’s fine arts facilities have classrooms that are too small and crowded, have inadequate storage and no place to lock up instruments, have art classrooms with poor ventilation and auditoriums that need major renovations or are too small to accommodate even half of the school population.

Research shows student involvement in the arts is linked to higher academic performance, increased standardized test scores, more community service, lower dropout rates, higher graduation rates and fewer discipline problems.

“Band, choir, art – those are the things that make kids want to come to school,” said Rebecca Gallegos, student at West. “Choir helps me enunciate when speaking with people. It gives me confidence to be in front of others. It teaches you how to work as a group and how to take productive criticism.”

“The problem solving skills that I’ve learned in art classes have helped me in every area of my life,” said Kirsten Wilcox, student at Northeast.

The State Board of Education recently added a high school fine arts credit to the graduation requirements.

Tina Murano, art teacher at Northeast, works with students with a ceramics project. Her art room is in the basement of the school and separated from the other art classes. Photo by Susan Arensman

That addition has meant a growth in all fine arts classes, especially the visual arts. Because more students are taking those classes, there is not enough room to accommodate them.

“There is a high demand for general art classes to fulfill that requirement,” said Connie Dirks, art teacher at Northwest. “We eliminated the Intro to Art class and have students take classes like Drawing I or Photography I.”

Dirks said the school had to make a choice between not offering Intro to Art or some of the higher level art classes due to lack of classroom space. The school kept the high level courses to provide more opportunities for students. But as more students take classes for the graduation requirement, the school may be forced to have fewer art options.

More middle school students are enrolling in beginning band as well. And many middle schools don’t have the space to accommodate the budding musicians.

“Right now we have 70 kids enrolled in sixth-grade beginning band in a room that can only house a 40-piece band,” said Carla Chapman, band teacher at Allison Traditional Magnet. “We have some kids in the classroom, we have kids in the lobby of the auditorium, we have some in the hallway.”

Along with the lack of classroom space due to increased student enrollment in music, visual arts and drama, many of the district’s facilities need upgrades.

The art room at West High School lacks storage space and adequate ventilation for ceramics. Photo by Susan Arensman

“My room is in the basement and it’s separate from any other art rooms,” said Tina Murano, art teacher at Northeast Magnet. “The ceiling is a maze of pipes and ductwork. There is a big wall in the middle of the room. It makes it difficult for classroom management when I’m working with some students on one side of the room and I can’t see my students on the other side.”

“We have a huge auditorium, the problem is that is was built in 1922,” said Dana Hamant, music teacher at East. “For us to do productions that we like to do, it’s extremely difficult because we have no fly space, we can’t raise anything above the stage, we have no wing space so we can’t move sets and some of the rigging above we can no longer put weight on.”

“The arts are a viable part of the curriculum across all grade levels,” said Shawn Chastain, Fine Arts Coordinator. “We have high quality programs, but due to the wear and tear of time, we need to look at facility improvements.”

The bond issue also addresses overcrowding, growth and population shifts, builds 60 new safe room storm shelters, supports the end of forced busing with renovations to schools in the AAA area, and renovates or rebuilds physical education and athletic facilities.

More information about the bond issue can be found on the district's website. 

It's about Our Kids, Our Schools, and Our Future.

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Video illustrates district's facility needs
Want to see first-hand the needs of the district? The district has produced a video illustrating the facility needs of the district. Hear first-hand from principals, teachers, students and parents about the challenge of educating students in facilities that are too crowded, need major improvements or are non-existent. The video is available online and can be viewed by clicking here.

The video is also showing at various times on the district's cable channel, Schoolhouse 20. Click here for the Schoolhouse 20 viewing schedule.

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Superintendent meets with employee groups 

Superintendent Winston Brooks meets with retirees at Stucky Middle School to discuss the bond issue. Photo by Susan Arensman

Superintendent Winston Brooks held two forums with employee groups in an effort to keep them informed about the bond issue and the plan to end busing for desegregation. Superintendent Brooks met with a group of retirees on March 26 and a group of classified employees on March 28. The classified employees were representatives from each school and administrative center. Superintendent Brooks will meet with 100 teachers on April 3.

The employees were selected because they are leaders in their buildings. Superintendent Brooks told them he hopes they will share the information they received with others in their buildings and with people in the community.

This is the second forum he has held with the employee groups. The first series of forums were in October.

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