Byram Hills fine arts budget highlights growth in ensembles, national student awards and new courses

Mark Beja, the district—9s director of fine arts, presented the fine arts portion of the 2025—26 budget and program updates to the board on March 11. He opened by noting March is nationally recognized as Arts in Our Schools Month and highlighted recent student achievements.

"We have about 70 music students going to perform in Disney Springs and then participating in workshops backstage," Mark said, describing an upcoming trip and student performance opportunities. He reported growth in middle- and high-school ensembles: orchestra numbers rose to about 40 students and band moved from the mid-20s into the mid-30s.

To sustain growth, Mark said the district plans to add an extra high-school band and orchestra section next year (a ninth-grade section) and that staffing changes in the budget reflect that need. He explained an external BOCES music specialist used previously for co-teaching was no longer available after a recent audit, so the district will hire a teacher to replace a 0.6 BOCES position and add another teacher for the additional section.

Mark also reported national and regional recognition for student art and photography, including a student selected for a juried exhibition by the National Art Education Association and other students exhibited at museum venues and national ceramics showcases. He noted a new fashion design course approved in December and said art staffing costs decline in the budget due to two long-tenured art teacher retirements.

Why it matters: growth in arts participation may require additional staffing and scheduling adjustments; national awards raise the profile of student work and may inform future program investments.

Next steps: the board will review the full budget at subsequent hearings and consider staffing proposals tied to ensemble growth and curriculum additions.