Parents, boosters urge district to invest in music and performing-arts facilities

Multiple parents, boosters and staff asked the board during public comment to prioritize investments in music, visual arts and the Brighton Center for Performing Arts.

Janelle Vermiglio, an elementary art teacher at Hawkins, highlighted current and upcoming student exhibitions and invited the public to district art shows at the Brighton District Library and the high school STEAM Center. "Right now until the April 27, the high school and Scranton have a beautiful display of talented artists on view at the Brighton District Library," she said.

Sid Adkin, choir booster president, and Christina Kaskakis, Orchestra Booster vice president and parent, described facility challenges for orchestra, band and choir at both the middle and high schools. Adkin said specialized orchestra rooms and a renovated band room were "long overdue," adding that current spaces lack temperature and humidity control that string instruments require. Kaskakis said Scranton’s orchestra instruments required more than $2,000 in repairs because of temperature fluctuations and that band students sometimes wear earplugs in class because of poor acoustics.

Speakers asked the board to consider the capital plan discussion in light of these requests and to include performance-space and music-room needs in any future bond or sinking-fund language. Several parents urged consistent staffing — citing that some music positions currently split time between schools — so students can enroll in music classes without schedule conflicts.

Ending: Board members acknowledged the comments and said the capital-funding review underway will include public input; they encouraged parents and boosters to respond to the district facilities survey and to continue providing specific requests and cost information to administration.