Parents, students urge Evergreen Public Schools to restore in‑school theater classes after district cites low forecasting numbers

Dozens of students, parents and school theater teachers urged the Evergreen Public Schools Board of Directors on May 27 to restore in‑school theater classes after the district said lower student forecasting and limited staffing would reduce elective offerings.

At the meeting, community members said the classroom experience — not just productions — builds teamwork, technical skills and belonging for students from Heritage, Evergreen and Mountain View high schools. "The classes that have been cut ... is actually the process in which students learn everything they need to do to put on the production," parent Dina Ault told the board during the public‑comment period.

The plea followed Superintendent Dr. Maloney’s presentation earlier in the meeting explaining how the district builds high school master schedules. "The decrease in theater drama classes is not a result of a district cut or a program cut. It's a direct result of decrease in number of students who are interested in taking the drama theater class as a credit bearing course during the school day," Dr. Maloney said. He added that theater club and productions continue to be offered after school at all four comprehensive high schools.

Students and teachers described personal and academic benefits they said depend on classroom instruction. Hanana Bagani, a Heritage High School senior, said her tech theater and acting classes were essential to her attendance and recovery during illness: "That class saved my freshman year and me." Mountain View theater teacher Mitch Garrison told the board that next year only two of the district's comprehensive high schools will offer theater classes during the school day, and that Evergreen and Heritage — which he described as among the district's most economically disadvantaged schools — are losing all in‑day theater courses.

Several parents and students cited specific forecasting numbers and data concerns. Dee Thomas, a parent and paraeducator from Evergreen High School, said she had been told "only 17 students forecasted for theater," then said student outreach at Evergreen produced 52 names of students who would have signed up. "Decisions made on incomplete data? That's not equity," she said.

Board members acknowledged the concern and asked district staff to…