Proposed Cuts to Region 15 Music Program Raise Concerns: Report

SOUTHBURY/MIDDLEBURY, CT — About 15 students spoke this week at a Region 15 Board of Education meeting to oppose plans to cut a music teacher position. The proposed Region 15 budget is for $67.47 million, which includes a 2.78 percent or $1.87 million increase, the Republican-American reports. School board members are trying to reduce the spending plan further, which is leading to possible cuts in staff.

A music teacher told the school board that a reduction in music teachers would hamper efforts to teach students in smaller groups, the Rep-Am reports.

A seventh-grade student at Memorial Middle School contacted Southbury Patch and said, "I am emailing on behalf of the MMS orchestra. We have recently learned that our talented and enthusiastic orchestra ... and our strings program are under consideration to be cut. We are doing everything we can to try and stop it like make petitions, plan fundraisers and share our voices at board meetings."

The student, who attended Monday's meeting, said the students aren't giving up and will continue to fight to preserve all music teacher positions.

>>>Read more at the Republican-American.