Schools want to expand arts and music

STEPHANIE BERTHOLDO/Acorn Newspapers IT MATTERS—Round Meadow Elementary School teacher Sue LeMarr, left, White Oak Elementary School principal Abbe Irshay and arts education consultant Celena Turney participate in the Las Virgenes School District Art and Music Task Force, an organization consisting of 12 members, including teachers, principals, administrators, consultants and community members. The Las Virgenes Unified School District is looking at sweeping changes to its elementary art and music program.

At the July 22 board of education meeting, a school district Art and Music Task Force that was created to develop recommendations on how to spend state money earmarked for art and music programs presented its vision and implementation plan.

The changes would begin this fall.

Celena Turney, an arts education consultant, called the district's focus on the arts "very rare" in California. She called for an integrated arts program, where art would be woven into all subjects and "bring academics to life."

Rose Dunn, director of elementary education, said the first budget phase totals $365,000. Hiring a project coordinator tops the team's list of priorities, Dunn said. A visual arts coach and music coach are also high on the team's to-do list.

The budget for curriculum materials for art and music totals $180,000, and the state has stipulated $12 per child for supplies.

Board President Cindy Iser said integrating arts into all areas of the curriculum is an admirable goal, but teachers would have to be "accepting" of the idea and receive the proper training.

The task force's ultimate vision for local elementary schools stresses that all students should have the opportunity to create and learn through "hands-on, inspired, standards-based instruction in the areas of artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, aesthetic valuing, and connections, relationships and applications."

In addition to fostering creative expression, Turney said every school under the plan will create a "culture that fosters creative expression" and partners with the art community.

The task forces says that as its recommendations begin to take effect, each of the 16 elementary schools in the district "will create and display arts everywhere all the time."

Arts program

The arts in the kindergartenthrough-fifth-grade curriculum would include thematic projects for each grade level. Art will be integrated into language, social studies, science, math and physical education if the board of directors approves the plan. The program also promotes the concept of childreninitiated projects that include writing their own plays.

A districtwide arts festival is also included in the plan, and the team would like to develop a podcast of the visual arts program. Arts appreciation programs through collaborative community and business partnerships are outlined in the plan that was presented to the board. The visual arts program would also provide appropriate materials, including a kiln at every elementary school.

Music program

Music instruction under the new plan includes "movement instruction for all," orchestral instruction, dance instruction, and fourth- and fifthgrade violin instruction. Students will also have the opportunity to write their own music, and themed dance and music programs will be staged. Numerous choral opportunities are also planned, and young students will benefit from mentoring by professionals and high school students.

Music and art will mesh in some programs. The leaders of the task force envision a "fashion show" of

5 art with students playing music in the background.

Board member Terilyn Finders suggested that the elementary program should feed into the middle school program.

Money matters

Turney said she recognizes that all the goals outlined in the plan couldn't be implemented at once, but launching a first-year plan is essential to the future success of the program.

While the state grants under Senate Bill 1131 is a good start, Dunn, Turney and others on the task force are hoping for more. To that end, community partnerships and contributions from existing parentteacher associations will be necessary to maintain an ongoing arts and music program.

One goal for next year might kick off a yearly trend—a districtwide art and music fundraising event.

Superintendent Donald Zimring said the district has "set the stage for some dramatic changes to the school system."