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Parents, teachers urge Evergreen board not to cut fifth‑grade band, warn of wider harm
Summary
Dozens of parents, teachers and students at the March 10 Evergreen School District board meeting urged the board to preserve fifth‑grade band and orchestra and to avoid cutting transition‑coach positions, saying those programs support student belonging, mental health and long‑term pathways into music careers.
Dozens of parents, teachers and a student appealed to the Evergreen School District board on March 10 to reverse proposed cuts that would eliminate fifth‑grade band and orchestra and reduce student‑facing staff.
“Fifth‑grade band and orchestra are not just extras. They are entry points,” said Bruce Dunn, a district band teacher, who described how early music instruction helped his and many students’ long‑term careers. Parent and volunteer Catherine Frederick told the board she was “greatly concerned about the proposed cuts to fifth grade band and orchestra and the far‑reaching impacts” on students’ social and academic development.
Speakers said the staff‑reduction proposal would amount to about a 4.4 FTE reduction and, they warned, eliminating elementary band and orchestra could affect schedules for roughly 19 music educators across the district. Several commenters said removing the program would raise barriers to participation and undercut schools’ ability to build connection and belonging at a key developmental stage.
Teachers and parents also warned that cutting transition coaches and associate principals would weaken supports for vulnerable middle‑school students. One parent described transition coaches as providing daily, hands‑on support — from connecting families with housing resources to stocking school pantries — and said removing those positions would likely increase safety and engagement problems.
Board members acknowledged the public’s concerns and said they had explored a range of options. The board noted state funding uncertainty and the statutory timeline that requires notice to affected employees by about May 15; the board said it would continue discussing the budget and expects to consider a resolution at the March 24 meeting. No final personnel actions were taken at the March 10 meeting.
The board took public comment, approved routine consent items and then adjourned; further budget decisions and any formal staffing reductions remain pending.
