On Tuesday, May 5, voters will have a chance to decide whether to fully fund the Public Schools of Brookline budget for the next three years by voting to approve a $23.25 million operating override. While the decision to support the override is a personal choice for each family, those of us on the Executive Board of Friends of the Performing Arts at Brookline High School (FoPA) encourage you to vote in favor of the override.
Simply put, if this override does not pass, the future of the performing arts in the Public Schools of Brookline will be unrecognizable.
If the override does not pass:
This year, 500 fourth grade students made one of their first meaningful educational choices when they picked out an instrument to study; if the override fails, none of next year’s students will have this opportunity. There will be no Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Guitar/Ukulele, or Music Production classes for Middle School students. These programs are the necessary building blocks that make it possible for our students to flourish when they get to Brookline High School, where they have the ability to join multiple choirs, a cappella groups, bands, orchestras, dance groups, and drama productions. These experiences become defining moments in the development of our children, and propel many of them into advanced performing arts groups in college, careers in the arts, and lifelong joy and community through the performing arts.
Currently, access to music and the performing arts is part of the school day for every student in Brookline, supporting students at all levels of ability, regardless of income or background. If that access disappears, it will not affect all students equally. While some families with sufficient resources may find ways to provide some level of education in the performing arts outside of school, these opportunities will be completely lost for many other children. If a student does not have the chance to pick up an instrument or step on to a stage until high school, for many of them it will be too late.
Please listen to some of our parents explain in their own words why they will be voting in favor of the override next Tuesday:
Sara Gewurz
Nira Pollock
Thank you,
Nira Pollock – FoPA Co-Chair
Julie Dollinger – FoPA Co-Chair
Ryan Garms – FoPA Secretary
Jennifer Tulipani – FoPA Treasurer
*Please note that this message is not endorsed by the Public Schools of Brookline or any employees. It is entirely the views of the Friends of the Performing Arts at Brookline High School Executive Board.
Simply put, if this override does not pass, the future of the performing arts in the Public Schools of Brookline will be unrecognizable.
If the override does not pass:
- Over 200 staff positions will be ELIMINATED.
- The Conservatory Program will be ELIMINATED.
- Music education in Grades 4 and 5 will be reduced from twice to only once a week, and there will be no instrumental or choral instruction.
- All music education for Grades 6-8 will be ELIMINATED.
This year, 500 fourth grade students made one of their first meaningful educational choices when they picked out an instrument to study; if the override fails, none of next year’s students will have this opportunity. There will be no Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Guitar/Ukulele, or Music Production classes for Middle School students. These programs are the necessary building blocks that make it possible for our students to flourish when they get to Brookline High School, where they have the ability to join multiple choirs, a cappella groups, bands, orchestras, dance groups, and drama productions. These experiences become defining moments in the development of our children, and propel many of them into advanced performing arts groups in college, careers in the arts, and lifelong joy and community through the performing arts.
Currently, access to music and the performing arts is part of the school day for every student in Brookline, supporting students at all levels of ability, regardless of income or background. If that access disappears, it will not affect all students equally. While some families with sufficient resources may find ways to provide some level of education in the performing arts outside of school, these opportunities will be completely lost for many other children. If a student does not have the chance to pick up an instrument or step on to a stage until high school, for many of them it will be too late.
Please listen to some of our parents explain in their own words why they will be voting in favor of the override next Tuesday:
Sara Gewurz
Nira Pollock
Thank you,
Nira Pollock – FoPA Co-Chair
Julie Dollinger – FoPA Co-Chair
Ryan Garms – FoPA Secretary
Jennifer Tulipani – FoPA Treasurer
*Please note that this message is not endorsed by the Public Schools of Brookline or any employees. It is entirely the views of the Friends of the Performing Arts at Brookline High School Executive Board.