Music Program Cuts Spark Concern

Shorewood School District residents asked school officials Tuesday to reconsider proposed cuts to the music program while adding administrative staff positions and wireless Internet service.

Nearly 60 Shorewood residents and parents attended a town hall meeting Tuesday, voicing an array of concerns to Superintendent Blane McCann about tax increases and the recently passed referendum, and zeroing in on recommended budget cuts to music directorships and the addition of district-wide Wi-Fi and administrative staff.

“I feel like Shorewood has a unbelievable choir, orchestra, band program and I don’t think it should be messed with,” one resident said. “It comes up every year, but it is what we do really well; let’s not mess with it.”

aimed at addressing a , the district would eliminate music directorships, asking those music directors to teach an additional class. Music directors currently spend a period of the day one-on-one with students, but now would be forced to teach private lessons outside of the regular school day. The district would pay a stipend for any lessons. The measure would save the district nearly $30,000.

Some residents said teachers would get burned out and students would lose some of the one-on-one attention they currently receive if private lessons are not incorporated into the school day.  

“We should pick the flagship things for which it is known for …  and I would offer that the arts are one of those things in Shorewood," said resident Sean Cummings. “I worry as we take those directorships away … cutting back on things that make us special, I worry that will cause our teacher will get burned out where they can’t offer that attention that makes us special.”

Resident Tammy Bockhorst said she didn’t believe music directorships should be cut to save money while the district proposes to add costs to its operating budget with additions of administrative positions.

McCann has proposed three additional administrative positions, including  $27,000 to staff a full-time director of instruction, $75,00 for a director of administrative services, and $45,000 for a literacy coach. The district has $105,00 in its budget for the director of instruction position.

McCann said the administrative staff additions are necessary to support staff and because many principals are doing two or three jobs. The staff additions, he said, would free principals for more school site level activities.

Also questioned was why teacher salaries were being reduced and administrative salaries increased over the next year in the proposed budget.

McCann explained that at least 10 teachers have retired and another is contemplating retirement, so the salary differences moving forward reflect the district’s expectation to hire new teachers at lower salaries. The district administrative salaries would increase more than $110,000 next year, while teacher salaries decrease $215,000.

Concern also was voiced over the proposed addition of district-wide wireless Internet, which school officials say would be an one-time cost of $110,000.

As student learning moves more online, it is important for students to be able to learn outside the classroom, McCann said. Business Manager Mark Boehlke said the district is spending a lot for wiring up classrooms for Internet access. McCann has said district schools currently have spotty Wi-Fi service.

Some residents said Tuesday, however, that Wi-Fi service isn’t a necessity at a time when sacrifices need to be made.

The district will approve its budget in October, after it gets a definite picture of state aid revenue. Its fiscal year begins July 1.