Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Arts Music Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves revised school music‑groups policy, removes uniform‑based size caps and expands instrument lending
Summary
The board approved revisions to the district’s School Music Groups policy: numeric caps tied to uniform purchases were removed, unit size will be determined by student interest, and district‑owned instruments may be borrowed across schools. Board members discussed funding to ensure elementary students have access to instruments.
Sandra LaRose, who led a multi‑year rewrite with Alicia Blanchard and Becky Broom, presented a revised “School Music Groups” policy intended to clarify band and choir rules, remove outdated uniform‑based limits on unit size and expand instrument loan rules.
LaRose said the old policy limited junior high bands to 80 members and high school bands to 96 because the caps matched the number of uniforms the district historically purchased. "That is no longer in the policy. The size of a unit is going to be determined by the number of students who would like to be in that group," LaRose said. The revision also tightened expectations around marching participation so students cannot remain in band class while exempting themselves from marching obligations when that would disadvantage the unit.
The updated policy removes feeder‑school restrictions on borrowing district‑owned instruments; LaRose said ESSER funds had purchased additional instruments so the district now has clarinets, flutes and saxophones available for earlier grades. "Those instruments that we have, we don't want them sitting in a school not being used because of an old policy," she said. LaRose said the district currently has extras and that no student is being denied instrument access at this time.
Several board members praised the changes but urged additional work to ensure that elementary students who want to start band have district‑provided small instruments (recorder/clarinet/flute) if parents cannot afford them. One board member suggested the board consider funding instruments for entry‑level fifth graders; another suggested exploring ESSER or other balances to finance purchases.
A motion to approve the policy was moved and seconded on the floor; the board chair called for public comment and then for nays. The chair announced the motion carried. The meeting record does not include a roll‑call tally in the transcript.
