By Neel Thakkar The cello section of Prospect's orchestra practices on Feb. 23. Much of the orchestra, including senior Brendan Moriarty, the cello section leader (foreground), participated in the music program in District 57, which could be cut for want of funding next year. Editor-in-Chief
At the District 57 board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 17, it seemed none of the dozens in attendance wanted to see the music program go.
The issue first came to light in January, when the district sent out a survey to 9,000 Mount Prospect residents asking for their opinions on how to balance the budget. According to the Daily Herald, options included increasing class sizes, seeking to increase taxes, raising some fees and eliminating the music program. The results of that survey will be announced on March 3.
That deficit, projected to be about $1.5 million by an independent analysis presented to the district in November, is a consequence of declining property tax receipts and insufficient state funding.
This year, the district managed to cover the deficit by using some of the money in its reserve account; however, continuing to do so would likely prove unsustainable. For that reason, the district is going to have to make some difficult budgetary choices in the coming months, including possibly eliminating some or all of the music program.
No steps have yet been formally proposed. But the mere prospect of losing programs in music and the arts was enough to bring out students, parents, and other community members in their support at the board meeting. Many of them took the chance to talk about what playing music had meant to them as elementary and middle schoolers.
Senior Robby Mack, who plans to become a jazz musician, spoke about how his parents moved to the district specifically for the music program.
“I probably would not be pursuing a career in music [without the District 57 music program],” he said. “I’d be lost.”
“School was not so bad,” said junior Mary Sullivan, who is now in Company and orchestra, “because I had something I loved to look forward to in the morning.”
The district’s superintendent, Dr. Elaine Aumiller, also recounted some of her own musical experiences; as a student, she said, she was a part of pep band, jazz band and marching band.
“Point being,” she said, “you will find no stronger advocate for the performing arts.”
But Aumiller stressed that there was only so much she could do. Additional state funding seems unlikely, and providing a strong education means that class sizes need to be kept low.
“I want to be able to pay them,” she said, referring to fine arts teachers, “I want to be able to pay them on time, and we can’t do that.” For a more detailed explanation of the District’s financial woes, see this letter to the community from the District’s website.
