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Students and instructor urge Lynwood Unified board to keep Mariachi program after parents complain
Summary
At the March 13 meeting students, parents and the mariachi instructor urged trustees to continue the district's Mariachi and folklórico after-school programs. An instructor rebutted a parental complaint that a child was separated for practice, saying the placement was temporary and instructional.
Public commenters on March 13 pressed Lynwood Unified trustees to preserve the district's Mariachi and folklórico programs and criticized steps that could end them.
"It expresses the culture of where we come from," student Camila Gonzalez told the board, asking trustees to keep the Mariachi program so future students can learn instruments and cultural traditions.
Several young speakers described personal benefits. Jonathan Ortiz, a sixth grader, said the program improved his balance and confidence and gave him opportunities to perform in community events. Eleven-year-old Donna Hernandez told trustees she wanted to continue learning instruments and singing through the program.
The Mariachi instructor, Oscar Cardinas, addressed a parental complaint made at an earlier meeting alleging a student was placed in a hallway and felt mistreated. Cardinas said the child was temporarily given focused instruction "other than to give her the chance to improve and catch up to the rest of the class" and that the guardian was present during the session. He also described the program curriculum as based on the Suzuki method, emphasizing learning to play before learning to read music.
Board President Julian Dela Ceros limited public-comment time to ensure both supporters and opponents had an opportunity to speak. Trustee Mr. Morales said he wanted to place an item on the next agenda so the board could take a formal vote on the matter.
No board action on program funding was taken that night; public comment was heard and trustees continued with the published agenda. Commenters urged the district to balance arts opportunities with academic interventions and to include community input in any decision about program continuation.
The board will consider agenda items at future meetings; Trustee Morales specifically requested the board place an item for a vote at the next agenda so members of the public could see a formal action on the program.
