“It’s a sin and a shame to take away the JPS Strings program,” expressed former Jackson Public School District Board of Trustee member Maggie Benson White.
White, a product of the JPS Strings in the Schools program herself, told The Mississippi Link Wednesday morning that she is “very passionate” about the issue.
The district has suspended the program by failing to renew its contract with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra (MSO), the organization which has implemented it for past 42 years.
JPS Superintendent Lonnie Edwards’ recommendation to renew it failed in a 2-2 split vote at the Oct. 20 board meeting. The opposing members were Vice President Ivory Phillips (who presided) and Former President Delmer Stamps. Board members H. Ann Jones and Jonathan Larkin favored it. Board President Sollie Norwood was absent due to illness.
Parents, MSO officials and area citizens were shocked by the action. MSO, “in good faith,” according to its executive director, Michael Beattie, began this year’s program thinking that the contract would be renewed as previously.
White said she could not believe it.
“I know from a personal stand point how motivational and uplifting the program has been for students. I was in Strings in the seventh-grade at Lanier when it was a junior high,” she said. She said the program afforded many opportunities for students (i.e., cultural exposure, music scholarships, etc.). “It was an eye-opening experience for me,” White added.
In a recent commentary, Phillips explained the reason for his vote:
“The vote which I cast was in the context of looking closely at all of the budgetary matters that have come up since we learned that there will be a $6.1 million cut ordered by the Governor. The same night that I voted not to renew the Symphony Orchestra contract, there were two other items that met a similar fate. Even as the vote was cast, as presiding officer, I stated that we would revisit the issue after we had more complete budget information.” (See Phillips’ full commentary on Page 2.).
The reported annual cost of the MSO contract is $300,000. This includes professionally-led instruction in stringed instruments to 450 students from elementary to high school; the Kinder Concert program for pre-school through second grade; and the MSO “Informances” at all 38 elementary schools in which approximately 10,000 JPS students are exposed to various music ensembles.
White, who served four years on the board, does not agree that the Strings program should be considered among state-mandated cuts. She feels there are other areas they can cut without “hurting students.” “If [we] can stop trying to fatten so many wallets, the students would not be neglected. This [the suspension] is a slap in the face of the community,” voiced White.
She encourages parents to continue trying to meet with the board.
Concerned parents gathered Friday, Oct. 23 to talk to the board at a special scheduled meeting, but a note on the door stated the meeting was cancelled. Parents met Tuesday evening, Nov. 3, a regular board meeting, but the two opposing board members were absent due to unexpected occurrences. Norwood was still out sick. Therefore, there was not a quorum.
“I don’t think they [the two opposing members] wanted to show up,” said Forest Hill High School Strings parent Robert Garrett who attended Tuesday’s meeting.
However, parents who had signed up for public participation regarding the issue were allowed to voice their concerns before the two board members present, the superintendent and the district legal team. According to reports, parents as well students asked the board to save the music program.
Parent Jessica Castagna appeared almost in tears.
In a telephone interview before press time, Castagna told The Mississippi Link that her family moved from Byram to Jackson to participate in the Strings program. Her son’s grades – after moving -started falling at first, but once he enrolled in Strings, he returned to making A’s, she said. Her son is an Oak Forest Elementary student, and her daughter participated in the Strings at Whitten Middle School.
“PE and Strings were the only extra-curricular activities she looked forward to. She enjoyed being with the other students in the program,” said Castagna.
Davis Magnet parent Kammie Mason said she would like to see the program reinstated. She did not know of its suspension until she heard it on the news. Her fifth-grade daughter was a first-year participant. “She had begun to practice at night. I would play the piano and would tell her to go to “C” on her violin, and she was able to do it,” Mason said.
In addition to financial losses parents incurred, White and Garrett pointed out other fallouts. “Without the program, bond money is wasted at Casey Elementary,” said White.
“The new addition there includes a [bond-approved] room just for Strings,” she said.
The “state-of-art” room has already been furnished and equipped for the program. Traditionally, Casey has the district’s largest Strings program with about 125 or more students.
Garrett said in addition to having purchased their daughter a new violin, he and his wife are trying to figure out what’s going to happened to the one-half unit of credit for the class. “No body can tell us whether she will be able to pick up another credit,” he said.
“Strings is one of their [students] chosen electives in high school,” he pointed out. “What if students need that extra credit to graduate? If they were planning to cut the program, they should have done it before now. No one at the school can tell us what will happen. I guess they’re waiting to see what the board will do.”
The next scheduled public JPS board meeting is Nov. 17. Citizens may sign up for public participation prior to the meeting.
Each person is given three minutes to address the board.
Parents may also email concerns to school board members through the JPS website: http://www.jackson.k12.ms.us Click on “About JPS” and select “School Board.”
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