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Parent and instructional assistant urges board to preserve arts program and key teachers
Summary
At the North Marion SD 15 board meeting, Jeanette Johnson, an instructional assistant and parent, urged the board to reconsider cutting the art program and to retain a sixth-grade math teacher and a fifth-grade teacher, saying those changes would harm students who rely on creative outlets and stable instruction.
Jeanette Johnson, an instructional assistant at the middle school learning lab and a parent of two students, urged the North Marion SD 15 Board of Directors to preserve the district art program and to keep specific teachers in place as the district navigates budget decisions.
"I truly believe that shutting down the art program is a critical mistake," Johnson said during public comment, arguing that arts classes provide creative outlets and a sense of belonging for students who do not thrive in athletics, robotics or agricultural programs. She said arts courses build confidence and community and that cutting the program would risk leaving students behind.
Johnson also urged the board not to relocate the current sixth-grade math teacher from the middle school, calling her "an exceptional educator" who knows how to reach students who are struggling. Johnson said removing that teacher would be "not the time" given students working below grade level, and emphasized the teacher’s role in building student confidence.
She raised a third staffing concern about an open fifth-grade teacher position and described the current fourth-grade teacher as a role model whose loss would be "a real loss for our school community." Johnson framed her remarks as both an employee and a parent, noting she supported earlier concessions to help preserve positions but asked the board to prioritize stability where it is most needed.
Why it matters: The comments tie into ongoing budget deliberations and staffing decisions; board budget reports later in the meeting noted some revenue uncertainty for the 2025–26 year and that the district will build the budget on the best available information.
Board response and context: The board thanked Johnson for her comments. The district’s business report later noted that final state school fund numbers were received for 2023–24 and an update for 2024–25, and that more information for 2025–26 may not be available until after May revenue is processed.
Next steps: Johnson asked the board to ‘‘please reconsider’’ program cuts and staffing moves; the district will continue budget planning as additional revenue information becomes available.
