Public commenters urge more arts funding, repairs for instruments and facility fixes; others press for restorative practices and ASL in middle schools

At the March 18 meeting, 17 speakers addressed the board during public comment and a set of recorded testimonies were played. Commenters raised multiple substantive concerns including arts funding and instrument repair, the physical condition of some school buildings, the need to expand restorative practices, and a request to offer American Sign Language (ASL) as a world language option in middle schools.

Arts and instruments: - Several parents and students said instrumental music programs are underfunded. Melissa Regan, a parent and advocate for instrumental music, said MCPS has “just under 24,000 students enrolled in music classes” and that annual funding covers “about 25% of what’s needed.” She described roughly $100,000 in repair backlog and urged a recurring funding plan for instrument purchases and repairs (testimony at 3127.245–3244.56). - Lee Senger, speaking with her son William, said high-cost instruments (William’s tenor sax example at about $3,500) create…