Parent urges Beaver Dam board to reconsider middle‑school bell schedule change to protect music instruction

Thomas Carroll, a parent of two Beaver Dam students, used the public‑comment period to press the board to reconsider proposed middle‑school bell schedule changes.

Carroll described the district's plan to move from a 10‑period day to an eight‑period day that would consolidate electives, music and WIN/intervention into the same block. "If you choose music, all of that is locked off to you," Carroll said, arguing that forcing students to choose music or other electives will lead some students to drop music. He cited personal experience — his son received a one at state solo and ensemble and benefited from one‑on‑one music instruction during WIN time — and said he had found studies from 2019 and 2020 linking musical study to academic performance.

Carroll told the board the district's award‑winning music program is a "crown jewel" at Beaverdam Middle School and warned that reduced participation at the middle‑school level could erode high‑school program quality over two to five years. He asked the board to "take another look at the bell schedule" to preserve student access to both music and career‑readiness electives.

Board members acknowledged his comments; no formal policy change or motion was made during the meeting on the bell schedule. Administration and board committees previously discussed the schedule change as part of teaching and learning and operations meetings, and Carroll said additional scheduling adjustments could preserve both objectives he supports: reducing student churn and preserving arts access.