Hinsdale Central student urges board to bolster music program amid staffing changes

Chase Barrett, a student in Hinsdale Central High School's music program, told the Hinsdale Township High School District 86 Board of Education on May 1 that recent staffing changes and a lack of public recognition are contributing to declining student participation.

Barrett said the district’s treatment of music students differs from athletics and other activities, and that the disparity harms recruitment and retention. “When our musicians achieve high honors … we receive little more than just a brief mention via blast email,” Barrett said. He told the board that musicians at the state level receive fewer celebrations — “no significant recognition was given to our Allstate musicians at all this year” — and that limited visibility makes it harder to attract incoming freshmen to the program.

Barrett described the effect of staffing decisions on the program’s future, saying a recent staffing change he attended “is one of the many clear signals that our program is unfortunately being dismantled and defunded.” He asked the board to “realign the priorities of this district with those of districts that better value arts education” and invited board members to visit the music program.

The district did not respond to Barrett’s comments during the public-comment period recorded in the transcript; the board proceeded with other business and later entered closed session. Barrett asked the board to recognize music accomplishments, value music educators, and preserve arts education as part of a balanced high school experience.

Barrett spoke during the meeting’s public-comment period, which the board limited to three minutes per speaker and up to a total of 45 minutes for the period.