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Former music educator urges board not to cut Fowler sixth‑grade band and choir
Summary
A former Fowler Middle School band director and state music‑education leader told the board proposed sixth‑grade music cuts would harm students and could raise costs elsewhere, urging the district to preserve sequential K‑12 music offerings.
Jeremy Zander, a Beaverton‑area music educator and past president of the Oregon Music Education Association, urged the Tigard‑Tualatin School District board during public comment not to eliminate proposed sixth‑grade band and choir offerings at Fowler Middle School.
Zander told the board he supported the district’s bond measure and then focused his remarks on program cuts. He said research shows music education supports academic performance, attendance and student engagement, but asked the board to consider the pragmatic cost implications of cutting music. He said that in his experience "when I taught at Fowler from 2007 to 02/2010, my band classes regularly had over 50 students," noting his smallest class was 40 and his largest 78. He warned that removing large, accessible music classes could require the district to create multiple new sections elsewhere and hire additional staff, potentially increasing costs rather than reducing them.
Zander identified himself at the lectern as a former Fowler and Tigard High School band student, a former Fowler band director and a music educator with 20 years of experience. He asked the board not to make decisions that would take opportunities away from students, citing confidence, community and purpose gained through music participation.
Chair Urban thanked Zander after his remarks; no board action followed from the public comment period. The district will continue budget deliberations in upcoming meetings where staffing and program decisions will be refined.
