Senior Sponsors WSHS Fine Arts Sit-In

senior Elizabeth Garcia is concerned. She'd heard some high school arts classes might be eliminated because of the county's school staffing policy. 

"The county allocates a certain number of teachers per school based on an average class size of 29.5 students per class," said Garcia.  "The problem is in fine arts classes, that number doesn't always apply. A chamber ensemble, for example, would only consist of about 20 students."

A member of several West Springfield music ensembles and a board member of the school's Thespian Honor Society, Garcia decided to bring attention to the issue. "I don't remember where the idea for a sit-in came from," she said.  "I knew I wanted to do something, and I knew other choir members felt the same as I did. I decided to get together as many people as possible to voice our concern."

The students are asking school administrators and the school board to reconsider staffing policies. "We want them to allow more flexibility in the numbers for fine arts classes to ensure all high schools in the county have a full-time fine arts teacher in each of the disciplines," said Garcia. 

Garcia said the sit-in was a success. "We had about 115 students come together to ask for a change in county policies regarding fine arts staffing," she said.  

"It was important that we avoid looking like a mob of angry teenagers and instead present our concerns and wishes in an organized and respectful way," said Garcia.

From the sit-in, the group created a video, which they are distributing to each school board member.  In addition, Garcia is on the agenda to make a presentation at today's (Thursday) school board meeting.