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Students and teachers urge Camas board to restore cross‑country and jazz/choir programs targeted in cuts
Summary
Three public commenters — two middle‑school students and an elementary music teacher — told the board that cuts to boys’ cross country, Sky Ridge and Camas jazz ensembles, and middle‑school choir threaten student development, community and pathways to higher-level programs.
Three speakers at public comment on June 23 asked the Camas School District Board of Directors to reconsider cuts that would eliminate boys’ cross country at the middle‑school level and reduce or remove jazz and choir programs in middle and high schools.
Seventh-grader Cal Jires and eighth‑grader Caitlin Tang described personal and community consequences of losing the programs. Cal said he was previously a member of the Liberty Middle School cross‑country team, cited personal results and state rankings he said he achieved, and said removing regular competition threatens his prospects for high‑school and college running. Caitlin summarized a student survey of 61 respondents and quoted peers who said jazz and choir formed a close community, supported mental health and provided early, advanced musical experience.
Woodburn Elementary music teacher Fauna Wolf described program-level impacts. Wolf said many elementary students who previously planned to enroll in Liberty’s choir were now opting out after recent staffing changes, and urged the board to restore middle- and high‑school jazz offerings and to preserve 60 minutes per week of elementary music. She urged stronger K–12 arts administration and vertical support so classes align from elementary through high school.
What speakers asked for - Reconsider cuts to middle-school boys’ cross country and to jazz and choir ensembles at middle and high school levels. - Restore the district’s jazz ensembles (which faculty described as a “music A team” and a development pipeline) and ensure stable choir staffing so middle-school singers can progress into high-school programs. - Preserve or restore full elementary music minutes and provide dedicated administrative support for arts K–12.
District follow-up on the record Meeting staff said Superintendent John and Dr. Anzalone (administration) would follow up on items raised by the public speakers, and the board acknowledged the comments. No formal decision on program restorations or reallocation of staffing was recorded in the meeting minutes; those actions remain subject to the district’s budget deliberations and negotiations.
Why it matters Public commenters said the programs provide inclusive, low‑cost participation (cross country is typically no‑cut at middle school), leadership and a route to higher-level opportunities. Teacher testimony emphasized the time needed to rebuild programs after staffing changes and warned that removing pathways can reduce later participation in high-school arts and ensemble programs.
