Public pleads for school district arts education

Math has been a top priority for La Conner Schools, with the district adopting new K-12 curricula designed to engage students and improve standardized test scores.

Students, teachers, parents and community members now want the same emphasis given to the arts.

Concerned that likely spending cuts, primarily linked to declining student enrollment, could lead to reduced learning opportunities in music, drama and related subjects, supporters of arts education urged the school board Jan. 23 to spare those programs.

Several pleas were emotional.

La Conner High alum Parker Rivas praised his school arts classes for developing in him as a teenager a lifelong appreciation for creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. His voice occasionally cracked as he spoke. As a student he competed in state-level band competitions. He has a degree in music education from Western Washington University.

Rachel Haley, the high school student body president, also fought back tears as she stressed the importance of arts in elementary grades through graduation.

Haley took a moment to compose herself before she praised director of bands and choirs McKenzie Clark for “creating such a positive climate” in his classes.

Other speaking in support were after-school drama club director Alicia Pedroza; teachers Katie Wigal and Amber Fleck; retired arts educator Scott McDade; parent Steve Phillips; and resident Linda Talman, a retired teacher who said her son, Stefan, much appreciated his music courses while a student.

Most speakers referenced the district’s rich tradition as an inclusive arts community.

Clark made a compelling case to the board – one which earned loud applause from the audience of at least 30 – that it consider the arts part of the district’s core curriculum, on par with math, science, English and social studies. He cited positive long-term influence arts instruction have on students, providing skills transferable to most careers.

“The arts aren’t enrichment. They aren’t a reward. They aren’t dessert. The arts are a core subject,” Clark insisted.

Clark said it is unfortunate that in the 2022-23 school year music instruction has been cut in grades K-4 following the retirement last spring of teacher-counselor Shegay Vanderpool and that neither art nor dance is offered at the K-8 level. He said music instruction time has been halved in the middle school and that music, art and drama were temporarily eliminated as elective courses during the post-COVID transition from remote learning.

“But,” he said, “I want to make perfectly clear that this isn’t an ‘us’ versus ‘them situation. Our district made these decisions with the best of intentions.”

He offered the arts for reaping immediate benefits for the district – to help boost enrollment, plugging funding gaps.

“I would love to be part of the solution going forward,” said Clark. “In the spring, I should be in Conway with band and choir performances.”

The board has discussed marketing its programs and offerings to families of Conway students, who may attend high school in either Mount Vernon, Stanwood, or La Conner.

“Please,” Clark implored of the board, “prioritize the arts for all.”

He was heard.

“We’ve made a priority of math and our community is telling us we need to make a similar commitment to the arts,” noted board member John Agen.

Board member Lynette Cram echoed those sentiments, personally thanking McDade and Clark for their work with family’s children.

“Our kids,” she stressed, “are better people for it.”