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Student urges pay parity for theater teachers, cites program achievements and statewide awards
Summary
A Floyd Central sophomore asked the board to equalize pay for performing-arts teachers with athletic coaches and to continue supporting theater programs; she cited student achievements and argued theater serves large numbers of students.
Anna Green, a Floyd Central sophomore and active theater student, told trustees during public comment March 10 that theater education provides broad academic and life benefits and asked the board to consider pay parity between performing-arts staff and athletic coaches.
Green told the board March is Theater in Our Schools month and described her participation in two Floyd Central musicals this year, competition achievements including a second-place finish at the Indiana Thespian State Conference and two competition pieces rated superior that will go to the International Thespian Festival. She said theater builds time management, responsibility, problem-solving and leadership skills and benefits more students districtwide than some varsity sports.
Green asked the board to equalize stipends for high-school performing-arts positions because, she said, stipends for varsity basketball and football coaches are more than double those for theater teachers and more than triple stipends for high-school tech theater teachers. She also noted that the district pays four assistant basketball coaches but requires performing-arts programs to fund some key collaborators from ticket proceeds. Green said stronger district support would help students continue succeeding in theater and suggested the board allocate additional financial resources and vocal support.
Ending: The board heard the request and did not take immediate action. Green asked trustees to consider the stipend disparity as part of upcoming budgeting and staffing discussions.
