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Students and parents press board to protect Colfax High music programs; school showcases IB, AI and student voice
Summary
After public commenters urged the board to preserve Colfax High's music program, the board reassured speakers that there is no plan to eliminate music. The meeting also featured a Colfax showcase highlighting IB results, AI-driven lesson labs and student town-hall feedback calling for more electives.
Several students and parents used the public-comment period to press the board to preserve Colfax High School’s music program and clarify rumors that the district would eliminate or split the choral director role.
Braden Keane, a Colfax junior who identified himself during public comment, said music changed his academic engagement and urged the board not to cut programs that provide non-athletic extracurricular options. Parent and alum Laura Townsend said Colfax’s choral program draws students to the campus and asked the board to consider filling any retiring music positions with a fully qualified choral conductor rather than splitting duties among other staff.
Board President Tracy Spade publicly addressed the rumor earlier in the meeting and said the district has no intention of eliminating music, noting that interim principal Wilson and the district clarified the matter.
The meeting also included a Colfax High presentation that detailed increased electives request from students, IB program statistics (courses and exam counts), learning labs on AI use in instruction and a student town hall that surfaced requests for more electives such as culinary, music and vocational pathways. The board approved a new Culinary Arts 2 course at Del Oro to boost the pathway’s VAPA-qualifying content and potentially make it eligible for Prop 28 funding.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the culinary course and praised the site staff for their work.
