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Student musicians gathered in the cold drizzle to play in protest against cuts to the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) music programs before this week's Board oOf Education meeting. During the meeting, Ithaca High School students presented their response to the proposed cuts.

On March 17, the ICSD published a draft budget for the 2010-2011 school year.  At the Ithaca City School Board meeting on March 23, protesters filled a lecture hall to argue against cuts to their programs.  The budget—titled “Working Document Under Discussion” addresses the $3 to $8 million shortfall by cutting over $2 million in school funding.  The rest is to be made up by a 3.75% increase in property taxes.


In the course of an hour and a half, almost 40 speakers challenged cuts to the music program, the Pre-K curriculum, after-school programs and late buses, and library staff.  Speakers pointed out that all of these cuts would unfairly impact economically and academically challenged students.  An adoptive mother of a brain-damaged child with behavior problems said that when he could play a school-provided cello, “It was like I got a new kid back.”  Teachers and parents cited evidence that the Pre-K and Head Start programs led to fewer special-needs students and higher graduation rates.

“I’ll find a way to pay higher taxes to keep the music program,” said Pat Dolson, mother of a 4th grader. 


Roberta Wallitt, a member of the Equity Inclusion Leadership Council (EILC) and the Village at Ithaca, asked “Why hasn’t the Board directed the Superintendent to suggest cuts based on the ICSD mission and goals, and on the studies done by each school?”  She said that the EILC submitted such a framework for the budgeting process.  “If the Board had adopted this framework, no one would be sitting here right now,” she said.

After the public comment period, Board member Joshua Bornstein said that although ICSD can no longer provide a wide variety and breadth of experience, he felt that “the Pre-K Program is rock solid.” 

And when the Board adjourned to its usual meeting room, student representatives from Ithaca High School presented the results of a questionnaire they had administered—with help from their statistics teacher—asking high school students what programs mattered most, and least.  They also asked what cuts the students would suggest.  The latter included cutting the associate principal’s staff and decreasing safety personnel.  On the other hand, students valued summer school elective classes, and language classes.

“We seeing our education in action,” commented Board member Sean Eversley Bradwell.

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