District arts manager outlines plan to expand K–12 access, staffing and instruments; long‑term facility needs noted
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Summary
The New Bedford School Committee heard a detailed proposal to standardize and expand fine arts instruction across the district, including schedule changes, hiring, instrument purchases and long‑term facility upgrades for the high school band program.
Michael Rayner, the district’s curriculum, data and assessment manager for the arts, told the New Bedford School Committee on March 10 that the district is proposing schedule and staffing changes to expand access to music, theater, dance and world language at every elementary school and to create more coherent middle‑to‑high school pathways.
“Right now it's limiting where depending on where you go to school, you get different classes,” Rayner said. “We want to change that so no matter where you grew up in New Bedford, you get the same programming.”
Rayner described three central goals: improve equitable student access to arts programming K–12; create jobs and schedules that attract and retain specialist teachers; and provide district support for materials and facilities. He said the district has restarted middle‑school ensembles, introduced elementary orchestras in five schools, and started about 100 string students this year after having none last year.
To expand access Rayner recommended moving many schools to a six‑day rotation so shared specialist staff can deliver consistent programming district‑wide. He said some existing positions will be converted to new specialist roles but that the overall head count stays roughly the same, with “one more” teacher budgeted for next year.
Rayner said the district is using some COVID relief funds for instrument purchases and plans to buy specialty instruments—bassoons, oboes, French horns—and upgrade percussion equipment. He also described outreach to the New Bedford Symphony about reviving lesson programs.
Rayner flagged a long‑term facility need at New Bedford High School: a larger band room and field improvements. He said the band program’s equipment needs and overlap with athletics currently force rehearsals into gym space and limit marching rehearsals. When asked about turf costs, Rayner and a committee member said a turf field could be about $1 million and explained drainage and soil issues may make turf a more practical solution than interim blacktop.
Committee members praised the plan as a pathway to increase attendance and build school pride. Several members said they will follow up with Rayner for scheduling and budgetary details as the district finalizes next year’s spending plan.