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Residents tell Ridgefield board proposed elementary schedule cuts would halve music and PE time
Summary
Two public commenters warned that new elementary schedules reduce specialist instruction and recess, saying music and PE classes fall from 74 to 34 annually and recess is cut; the board asked staff to follow up to identify the letter's author and clarify specifics.
Bradley Branham and a volunteer whose letter was read by Barbara Wright urged the Ridgefield School Board on Monday to reverse schedule changes they said will sharply reduce elementary students' access to music, physical education and recess.
"Cutting physical education and music by half, reduction of visual arts by 25%, and recess limited to 25 minutes a week without informing parents or taxpayers like me is outrageous," resident Bradley Branham said during public comment, identifying himself as a Ridgefield resident and taxpayer.
Barbara Wright read a letter from a district volunteer that claimed the new elementary schedule reduces music and PE from 74 classes a year to 34, trims specialist time by roughly 15 minutes a week and eliminates about 25 minutes of weekly recess. Wright said she had volunteered in district schools for eight years and disputed the district's description of the changes as "not cuts," saying the effect on students would be reductions in opportunities for movement and creative expression.
The board did not vote or issue a formal response during the public comment period. Chair noted the board would not respond to questions during public comment and asked staff to try to identify the letter's author for follow‑up. "If possible," the chair said, "we would like to follow up — with them." (The volunteer submitting the letter had asked Wright to read it and the author’s name was not provided on the record.)
Context and next steps: The presenters framed their objections around research linking physical activity, arts and recess to academic focus and social‑emotional development. Wright cited the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics when arguing that reduced recess and specialist time undercut learning benefits. The board asked staff to attempt to identify the letter's author and to report back; no formal policy or schedule change was adopted at the meeting.
Why it matters: Parents and community volunteers framed the schedule changes as affecting elementary students' daily experiences and long‑term engagement. The board’s requested follow‑up means residents should expect staff to clarify whether the alleged reductions are final, how they were calculated and whether alternatives or mitigations are available.
