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Community urges Evergreen board to preserve fifth-grade band and orchestra amid budget cuts
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Summary
Dozens of parents, teachers and students told the Evergreen School District board on March 10 that cutting fifth-grade band and orchestra would remove an important entry point to music, harm student belonging and affect dozens of music educators across the district.
Parents, students and school music teachers packed public comment at the Evergreen School District board meeting on March 10 to urge the board to preserve fifth-grade band and orchestra as the district grapples with budget shortfalls and proposed staff reductions.
Catherine Frederick, a volunteer with four children in the district, said fifth-grade music opportunities lead to better test scores, social skills and long-term engagement, and urged the board to "reconsider the proposed cuts for the sake of our children's futures." Elizabeth Punda, a student, told the board fifth-grade band acts as a low-barrier 'tryout' that increases middle-school participation and requires about 30 minutes of practice.
Band teacher Bruce Dunn described how joining band in fifth grade provided him with belonging and life-changing opportunities and warned that eliminating the program would not simply save a budget line but would "remove opportunities that can shape lives." He noted that fifth-grade instruction feeds the district’s later music pipeline and cited examples of district graduates who became music educators.
Speakers also emphasized the knock-on effects of removing fifth-grade music: Sarah Hemphill, a parent of three (including three fifth-grade band students), said the proposal described a 4.4 FTE reduction but would alter schedules for 19 music educators across the district. Teachers and parents warned that moving instrument starts to sixth grade raises a participation barrier and could worsen student mental-health risks by removing positive, community-building activities.
Board members acknowledged the emotional testimony and said the budget choices were difficult; staff described a timeline constrained by a May 15 personnel-notice deadline and uncertainty in state funding. The board did not vote to change the proposed reductions at the March 10 meeting but noted public comment and said they would continue to consider budget options before personnel notices are issued.
