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Students and parents urge Tempe Union board to preserve Desert Vista choir and seventh-hour programs
Summary
More than 20 students, parents and alumni pressed the Tempe Union High School District board during public comment to stop proposed reductions to Desert Vista High School's choir program (described repeatedly as a cut from five choirs to two) and to retain seventh-hour speech & debate, citing mental health, scholarship pathways and recruitment impacts.
At a regularly scheduled Tempe Union High School District board meeting, more than 20 students, parents and alumni used the public comment period to urge the governing board not to curtail Desert Vista High School’s choir program or eliminate critical seventh-hour opportunities for speech and debate.
Students described choir as a mental-health lifeline and a source of scholarships and community. "Choir is my life," student Cassidy Tremeth said, pleading with the board to "please just think about what I've said and please rethink your decisions." Ava Sanders, speaking earlier, credited choir with giving students "irreplaceable bonds" and opportunities to perform.
Several speakers said a district proposal under discussion would reduce Desert Vista’s choir offerings from five choirs to two. "Five to two," wellness-chair Lea Perez said, noting that compressing multiple…
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