SDUSD School Board Votes to Save the Arts

A couple of months ago I had a blog entry about the San Diego Unified School District polling parents regarding where they would make budget cuts, if necessary.

Well, the cuts are necessary, and parents indicated they would rather see class size increase than arts and sports programs cuts.

So, the SDUSD school board voted to protect the arts and sports programs and increase class size.

It’s an interesting article, particularly for those who are interested in mayoral control of schools, for it is a good example of a well functioning school board, and what some form of the democratic process looks like in a school district.

Yes, it can work.

Click here for School Board Saves Sports, Arts, Music, and Camp.

“Athletics, arts and music budgets are “very efficient” and worth protecting, board member Richard Barrera said before casting his vote. The programs were saved on a 4-1 vote, with board president Shelia Jackson dissenting in hopes of trimming at least some of the funding.

Two hours of the full-day meeting were devoted to public testimony from those hoping to save athletics, arts and music, even though they weren’t among the items being considered today. However, at mid-afternoon, board member Katherine Nakamura made the motion to protect the programs.”

It sounds like the advocates made the difference…