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Parents and students urge district to restore orchestra at Rogers Magnet amid planned cuts
Summary
Multiple speakers at the board meeting pleaded with the board to reverse a decision to cut the orchestra program at Rogers Middle School, describing the ensemble as critical to students’ social and emotional well‑being and academic success.
Parents, students and community members urged the Hillsborough County School Board on Tuesday to reverse a decision to eliminate orchestra at Rogers Middle Magnet in Riverview.
During the public‑comment period, several speakers described the orchestra as a unique program that serves introverted or sensitive students and as a site of leadership and academic growth. Carissa Cashin said orchestra students “may be more vulnerable” and described the program as “a refuge from the storm” for children who do not thrive in socially intense environments. A parent who identified himself as Chris Maloney said his son, the orchestra concertmaster and an honor student, had developed leadership, self‑discipline and confidence through the program and that cutting it would be “tragic.”
Speakers credited teacher Kelly Montero with dramatic program improvements, including higher performance ratings and increased participation. A parent and a student said the orchestra recently earned “superiors” at Music Performance Assessment for the first time in 20 years. Commenters asked the board and district administration to find savings elsewhere and to restore the program.
The board did not take an immediate action on the matter during the meeting; speakers used the public‑comment slot to request follow‑up and urged district leaders to reconsider the budget decision at Rogers.
