Students and parents urge Tempe Union board to preserve Desert Vista choir and seventh-hour programs

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 levels into two choirs would limit differentiated instruction and exclude many learners. Parent and former choir student Monica Gelman urged the board to "get creative" and find funds because "equal is not equitable," warning compression would leave many students either unchallenged or unable to keep up.

Speech and debate leaders also spoke in favor of maintaining seventh-hour classes that support recruitment and participation for students with after-school commitments. Cora Wintring, president of the Desert Vista speech and debate team, said seventh hour accounts for roughly "40% of our team" and called it "critical to our recruitment," adding that cutting the class would reduce future participation and scholarship opportunities.

Several parents and alumni tied arts programming to district priorities. Lisa Thomas cited research on preventative mental-health interventions that include social connection and peer support, saying choir provides "a greater feeling of togetherness" and reduces stress. Jennifer Jarvis asked the board to keep the community informed and to consider forming brainstorming sessions or a budget committee to explore alternatives.

A few speakers broadened the request for district action: Jody Hernandez asked the board to schedule a follow-up special-education meeting to clarify transition programming and what will replace the innovation center space; others raised concerns about communication and transparency around how program cuts are being determined.

Board members acknowledged the speakers. Member Hodge thanked families and students for advocacy and noted the difficulty of budget decisions; Vice President James and Member Steele praised the district’s fine-arts teachers and recognized student performances. Dr. Wilson's earlier report had noted recognitions for the district’s Excellence in Education finalists and Desert Vista’s state championship in speech and debate.

The public comment period concluded without an immediate vote on arts-program reductions. Several parents asked for further involvement as the district's budget committee continues work; Jennifer Jarvis said she had been approached about a budget committee and "would love to be a part of that if that would have any impact in helping shape the choir program." The board later moved through routine consent and informational items as the district continues internal budget deliberations.

Next steps: speakers asked the board to retain choir course offerings, protect seventh-hour speech and debate, involve community in budget options and schedule follow-up discussions on special education and transition programming.