posted by Mike Madison at 10:01 AM /
Passions are rising in Mt. Lebanon this week over a discussion at last Monday's School Board meeting. I wasn't there, and I haven't (yet) seen the video, but I'm told that members of the Board actually had a genuine conversation about budget priorities. What has people upset -- some teachers, some parents, and now, it seems, even some students -- is the possibility that the Board may critically examine funding for the fine arts, along with funding for math and science, among other things.
Some people have drawn the inference that the Board is considering eliminating some fine arts programs altogether. Homemade flyers have appeared at street corners in some parts of Mt. Lebanon that say "Save Our Band."
On the one hand, that strikes me as a terrible overreaction; it's difficult for me to imagine the Mt. Lebanon community tolerating the wholesale elimination of arts programming, or even significant chunks of it. Anyone with even a casual acquaintance with the Mt. Lebanon School District knows that Mt. Lebanon has a fine arts program that is nationally competitive. It is truly an extraordinary resource, and, as people who know the arts know, excellence in the arts is expensive.
On the other hand, budgets are budgets, and Mt. Lebanon doesn't have unlimited resources. How many Mt. Lebanon homeowners would like to pay more in school taxes? We elected a School Board to have these discussions, and it sounds to me like the discussions are going on. As a first step, I think that's a good thing. I like the fact that the Board is actively involved. As to the merits of where the budget process should go, or is likely to go, I welcome comments.
UPDATE: Here's a copy of the flyer.
Some people have drawn the inference that the Board is considering eliminating some fine arts programs altogether. Homemade flyers have appeared at street corners in some parts of Mt. Lebanon that say "Save Our Band."
On the one hand, that strikes me as a terrible overreaction; it's difficult for me to imagine the Mt. Lebanon community tolerating the wholesale elimination of arts programming, or even significant chunks of it. Anyone with even a casual acquaintance with the Mt. Lebanon School District knows that Mt. Lebanon has a fine arts program that is nationally competitive. It is truly an extraordinary resource, and, as people who know the arts know, excellence in the arts is expensive.
On the other hand, budgets are budgets, and Mt. Lebanon doesn't have unlimited resources. How many Mt. Lebanon homeowners would like to pay more in school taxes? We elected a School Board to have these discussions, and it sounds to me like the discussions are going on. As a first step, I think that's a good thing. I like the fact that the Board is actively involved. As to the merits of where the budget process should go, or is likely to go, I welcome comments.
UPDATE: Here's a copy of the flyer.
2 Comments:
A teacher or someone in the school administration had to have started this rumor, knowing that it was not true. For what reason? To attempt to somehow discredit the new board members because they are asking hard questions about the budget? What is most dispicable is that some teachers have decided to use their students to help spread these lies! If the person or persons responsible for this can be identified they should be severly reprimanded! Someone who would do this should not be employed by the Mt. Lebanon school district.
The April 2006 Mellon PTA President’s Message reflects on the ongoing budget process, beginning with a quote from Albert Einstein: “The important thing is to not stop questioning.”
This is simple, but good counsel.
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