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Board weighs cutting 1-act play and other fine-arts activities to meet savings target
Summary
Kenyon-Wanamingo board members and parents debated trimming the district's one-act play and combining middle- and high-school productions to save roughly $2,100–$3,400 as part of a broader $750,000 rightsizing goal; parents urged fundraising and creative options to preserve student opportunities.
Board members and parents spent substantial time debating whether to trim fine-arts offerings as part of the district's rightsizing plan. One parent said parents were "wanting to fight for their kids, but not feeling comfortable coming forward," while a board member proposed combining middle-school and high-school productions so "nothing is gone, but you have the savings" from eliminating a separate middle-school slot.
Administrators and board members discussed concrete savings figures tied to the options. The superintendent summarized a proposed combination as producing roughly $2,100 in savings for consolidating the middle-school production into the high-school production; the board identified a remaining gap of about $1,300 to reach the immediate $3,400 target. One board member urged the activities director (AD) to find the remainder by fundraising or reallocating department funds.
Several speakers stressed the educational value of theater for students who do not engage in athletics. A board member said: "We have to keep in mind that they still have 2 opportunities to perform in a play in high school and still 1 in middle school. We're keeping 3 out of the 5." A parent added that some children rely on theater as their primary activity and could disengage if programs are cut.
The board did not adopt any cuts at this meeting; members asked administration to compile options and numbers for the next meeting, including whether the AD could guarantee fundraising or other revenue to restore programs. The discussion will inform a formal motion and vote at the next meeting.
