Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arts Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kamiakin students urge board not to cut Drama I–II; district staff to report back
Summary
Students from Kamiakin High School urged the Kennewick School District board to retain Drama I and II, saying the classes build social‑emotional skills, technical theater abilities and club participation; the superintendent agreed to explore options and report at the next meeting.
Several Kamiakin High School students spoke during public comment May 6 to ask the Kennewick School District to keep Drama I and II in the course catalog and restore other theater offerings.
"My name is Lauren Lusk. I'm a senior at Kamiakin High School where I reside as the drama club president," Lauren Lusk said. "I'm here to ask that we do not remove the drama 1 and 2 class and the grama."
Nut graf: Students told the board that the Drama sequence provides opportunities for students who cannot participate in after‑school extracurriculars, teaches improvisation and collaboration, and supports technical theater skills that also generate funds for the drama program.
Multiple students described personal development tied to drama classes. Lily De Leon, a Kamiakin sophomore, said the class taught her problem solving, directing and set skills and helped students come out of their shells. Leila Rae Gloria Navarrete, a senior and Tri-Tech Early Childhood Education student, urged restoration of Drama I–IV across high schools and middle schools to support social‑emotional development and curriculum connections with English classes (for example, through productions of canonical texts).
Board members asked staff to investigate and report back. "Can you look into this for us and report back next meeting please?" a board member asked. Dr. Pierce said, "Yes. I absolutely will. Yes. I'm going to follow-up with the team and we will provide a follow-up to the board and then up at the next meeting."
Ending: Students and staff said they will follow up with building leaders. The board did not vote on course changes at the meeting; staff signaled they would research options including schedule, enrollment thresholds and possible remote or dual‑enrollment alternatives and return with recommendations.
