Tam Union school district weighs cuts to music program

Despite strong protests from parents, Tamalpais Union High School District officials have agreed to consider cutbacks in music programs next year because of declining enrollment.

The district board voted 4-0 on Tuesday, with trustee Karen Loebbaka absent, in favor of a 60-day review of a proposal to cut the equivalent of almost half of a full-time music teacher position. The reduction, referred to as a 0.4 FTE cut in teacher hours, translates to a decrease of about two classes, officials said.

More than two dozen parents opposed the idea and urged the district to give its music programs more time to come back from the pandemic.

“COVID was difficult for all school music programs,” Diane Brockob, a Tamalpais High School parent, said during the public comment period. “If you’ve ever had a music practice on Zoom, you know why — it’s a miserable situation.”

Parent Lucas Maher said cuts would be premature and could short-circuit any trend for student interest in music to return.

“Clearly, total enrollment is a problem,” Maher said. “But I fear that if we make cuts to the program now, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. We cannot react to this too quickly.”

Trustees will vote by May 15 — the final day when California school districts may issue layoff notices for next school year — whether to follow through on the proposal.

The district has three music teachers, one for each of the three comprehensive high schools. All three are full time, said Wes Cedros, a district assistant superintendent.

It was not specified Tuesday where the cuts might occur. Cedros said any decision would be based on an analysis of enrollment districtwide.

“One section (or 0.2 FTE) costs approximately $35,000, so 0.4 FTE would be approximately $70,000,” Cedros said in an email Wednesday. “The resolution on the board agenda allows for a maximum reduction of 0.4 FTE (2 sections) across the district.”

According to data presented by Cedros on Tuesday, the decline in music enrollment for next year is expected at Archie Williams High School in San Anselmo. The school’s music program enrollment of 125 students this year is projected to decline to 78 students in 2023-24.

At the district’s other two large high schools, music enrollment is expected to increase next year.

At Redwood High School in Larkspur, the music program has 118 students this year and is expected to have 160 students next year. At Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, enrollment is expected to increase from 107 this year to 116 students in 2023-24.

“Parents, students and staff should know that the district is committed to maintaining a strong music program,” Tara Taupier, the district superintendent, said Wednesday. “We will continue to work with administration and teachers at the school sites. However, fiscal prudence requires that the district analyze staffing ratios based on enrollment with all course offerings.”

Parents said that while the 0.4 FTE reduction appeared to be relatively small, the impact of combining classes from different music activities would be huge and counterproductive.

“How could you collapse such different classes?” parent Dvera Hadden said. “You can’t put band and percussion together with an orchestra class.”

Parents also pointed to research indicating that music studies are beneficial for improving mental health and empathy. Participating in a band or orchestra can help ease isolation from the pandemic, parent Sierra Robinson said.

“Kids have lost so much already,” Robinson said. “Give the kids back some community and sense of belonging.”

Trustees said that while they fully support music studies, it is their duty to make sure they are keeping the district fiscally sound by linking expenditures to enrollment.

“We need to make sure we are rightsizing, but not impacting the quality of the programs,” trustee Cynthia Roenisch said.

At the same time, Roenisch, a public school teacher in the East Bay, said that fostering empathy is important.

“I teach English, so you’re never going to lose me on empathy,” she said.

Trustee Kevin Saavedra, who has worked as a professional musician in the past, said that while he wholly supports music studies, he is also in favor of the two-month review.

Saavedra said he wants to take the time to try to understand why interest in some high school music classes is declining, while some middle school music programs in Marin seem to be rising in popularity.

“There’s a yawning gap,” he said.

Cedros said it was not immediately clear if the pandemic was at cause for any declines in enrollment.

“Take a look at the enrollment sheet,” he said. “It appears that numbers at most of the sites are very close to pre-pandemic levels.”