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Elementary music teachers warn proposed arts changes would halve instruction time
Summary
Multiple elementary music teachers and music staff told the board a proposed model tied to ESSB5878 could reduce music time by about half, urging the district to include music specialists in planning and to pursue expansion rather than replacement of arts offerings.
Elementary music teachers and music department staff used the association and public‑comment periods to warn the Northshore School District that proposals discussed internally could reduce elementary music instruction from twice weekly sessions to a single weekly session, eroding performance opportunities and core standards‑based instruction.
"Under the proposal...students would go from receiving 57 hours of music a year to just 28 and a half," said Cararissa Murphy, an elementary music teacher at Frank Love Elementary, who said the district had confirmed compliance with ESSB5878 but that the law’s intent is to expand, not shrink, arts access. Kelly Griffin, a 37‑year veteran music teacher at Morland’s Elementary, said frequency and continuity are essential: "Elementary music twice a week is the standard in all the surrounding districts."
Several teachers described proposals discussed by district staff that could replace retiring music FTE with visual‑arts positions through waiver pilots, which they said was developed without meaningful elementary music teacher representation. Kieran McDaniel, who previously worked as an itinerant teacher, warned that prior program rollouts (cited: fifth‑grade band and orchestra) were short‑lived and caused harm to itinerant staff; he urged collaborative, sustainable planning that preserves existing music programs while expanding visual‑arts access.
Board action: The meeting validated and accepted a donation and adopted the consent agenda, but did not take a formal vote on the music program proposals during this session. Teachers requested that the district ensure elementary music specialists are included in any future arts programming decisions and that district leaders pursue expansion rather than substitution when implementing ESSB5878.
