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 provide more detail on the forecasting process and whether a reforecast or broader survey is possible. Director [first reference: Director Christine Witherspoon, board president] said the volume of public comment suggested the issue deserved another look; Director Perkins later suggested a short districtwide check‑in to verify student interest. No motion to change course was made at the meeting.

What the district described

Superintendent Dr. Maloney described the district's scheduling practice: forecasting begins in February when students indicate interest in courses; principals staff classes based on expressed interest and enrollment‑driven staffing. "With a limited staff budget that's based on student enrollment, and our enrollment has been declining, building administrators have to decide what courses to offer based on the number of students who are showing interest in particular courses," he said.

School staff and many speakers asked the board to consider procedural fixes. Parents and community members asked for a reforecast, a district survey, and clearer guidance to counselors so that students who were told to "wait to forecast" would still be counted. "I would like to ask that you guys reforecast. I would love to see you put a survey out to the whole entire district," parent Dana Taub told the board.

Why it matters

Speakers framed in‑day theater classes as more than extracurricular productions: they said courses teach technical theater, acting technique required for college auditions, ensemble skills, and provide belonging that supports attendance and mental health. Several speakers described theater as a key support for students with IEPs and 504 plans and as a pathway to college and careers in the arts.

What the board did

The board received public comment and discussed next steps; directors did not vote to reinstate classes during the meeting. Instead, several directors asked district staff for additional information about forecasting practices and the accuracy of enrollment data used to staff electives.

Looking ahead

Board members, including President Witherspoon and Director Perkins, said they want follow‑up information about forecasting mechanics and whether a limited reforecast or districtwide survey could change staffing calculations. Community members said they will continue outreach to document student interest.

Speakers

- Dina Ault — Parent (public commenter) - Hanana Bagani — Student, senior, Heritage High School (public commenter) - Dane Ford — Student, graduating senior (public commenter) - Mitchell (Mitch) Garrison — Theater teacher and director, Mountain View High School (teacher/public commenter) - Dee Thomas — Parent and paraeducator, Evergreen High School (public commenter) - Dana Taub — Parent/educator (public commenter) - Additional students and parents from Heritage, Mountain View and Evergreen high schools (20 public commenters during the meeting)

Authorities

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Actions

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Discussion_decision

- Discussion points: hundreds of minutes of public comment stressing the role of classroom theater; superintendent explanation of forecasting and enrollment‑driven staffing; concerns that counseling or communication about forecasting may have suppressed reported interest. - Directions: Board asked staff for clarification of the forecasting process and to report back; several directors requested a possible reforecast or district survey. - Decisions: No formal decision to reinstate classes was made at the meeting.

Clarifying_details

- "Only 17 students forecasted for theater" — reported by Dee Thomas as the district number she was told; Dee Thomas also reported an Evergreen High School student outreach list of 52 students who said they would have signed up (source: Dee Thomas). - "Theater club and productions continues to be offered after school at all 4 of our comprehensive high schools" (source: Superintendent Dr. Maloney).

Proper_names

[{"name":"Evergreen Public Schools","type":"agency"},{"name":"Heritage High School","type":"school"},{"name":"Mountain View High School","type":"school"},{"name":"Evergreen High School","type":"school"}]

Community_relevance

- Geographies: Heritage, Mountain View, Evergreen high schools (districtwide impact). - Impact_groups: high school students, students with IEP/504 plans, students seeking arts/career pathways, parents, theater teachers.

Meeting_context

- Engagement_level: High — about 21 people signed up for public comment; 20 speakers spoke on the theater topic; the board acknowledged the volume of testimony. - Implementation_risk: Low/medium — changes to course offerings are contingent on staffing and budget constraints and may be reversible if forecasting or staffing changes. - History: Speakers and teachers said cuts have progressed over multiple years; parents reported Heritage had no theater classes in 2024–25.

Searchable_tags

["theater","drama","electives","forecasting","Evergreen Public Schools","Heritage High School","Mountain View High School","Evergreen High School","equity"]

provenance

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salience

{"overall":0.78,"overall_justification":"District‑level policy on course offerings affects many students; large public turnout indicates strong local interest.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Directly affects students in Evergreen Public Schools high schools.","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"High public turnout and board follow‑up requests.","novelty":0.35,"novelty_justification":"Cuts were described as gradual but the volume of testimony this meeting increased urgency.","timeliness_urgency":0.70,"timeliness_urgency_justification":"Decisions affect next year’s master schedules and imminent staffing choices.","legal_significance":0.10,"legal_significance_justification":"No statutory legal action discussed; issue centers on local budgeting and scheduling.","budgetary_significance":0.20,"budgetary_significance_justification":"Impacts staffing allocations though precise cost figures were not adopted at the meeting.","public_safety_risk":0.00,"public_safety_risk_justification":"No public safety risk reported."}