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Parents urge Ridgefield School District to preserve arts, PE and walking field trips
Summary
During public comment, three parents asked the Ridgefield School District board to reconsider schedule and staffing changes that would cut arts, music, physical education and walking field trips for next school year, arguing those elements support students' social-emotional development and community ties.
Several parents told the Ridgefield School District board during public comment that proposed schedule and staffing changes for 2026–27 will significantly reduce students’ access to arts, physical education and regular walking field trips.
"PE and recess are not luxuries," said Sarah Drager, who identified herself as a Ridgefield parent, telling trustees the district’s proposals remove minutes of PE and reduce special-subject time in ways that undermine social-emotional learning. Drager said her children have already lost walking field trips — a longtime downtown tradition — and that cutting art and music time will hollow out the community connection schools provide.
Nikki Pollson, another parent, described her professional background in theater and urged the board to preserve early arts exposure. "Art teaches innovation, problem solving, and thinking outside the box," she said, adding that exercise and music help reduce anxiety for young students.
The comments followed a presentation from Charlotte Barnes, who said she founded a nonprofit Ridgefield Youth Orchestra and described rapid program growth: "We ran our winter concert with 60 students and more than 250 attendees," Barnes said, thanking district staff for support and asking the board to continue partnerships that put string instruments and ensemble experiences in school settings.
Board members did not debate the budget or staffing decisions during public comment; the board acknowledged the remarks and moved on to its regular agenda. The comments feed into the district’s larger budget conversation, where administrators earlier reported a multi‑million‑dollar special‑education deficit and are actively pursuing state safety‑net reimbursements and other adjustments.
Next steps: parents asked the board to revisit the specific schedule choices and staffing allocations for next year. The board will continue budget and policy work in upcoming meetings; no formal action on programs was taken during this session.
