West End elementary students won't be asked to put away their clarinets and saxophones just yet after the New Westminster school board voted unanimously to keep the band program at the board meeting May 21.
Almost 100 people packed the high school's library to voice concerns about staff's earlier recommendation to cut the band program at West End elementary schools for a two-year period while the new middle school is being built. The board opposed the recommendation when it was first presented at the beginning of the month, and this sentiment was once again echoed during Tuesday night's meeting.
Trustee Casey Cook reminded those in attendance the program would remain and that the board was only deciding in what form it would remain for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 school years.
"What matters now is which program is best," he said during the meeting.
There were three options presented by district administration. The first was to keep the program as is, but because of budget constraints this wasn't the most cost effective option, according to the staff report. The second option was to offer the band program during teacher preparation time. The third option was to offer the band program after school much like an extra curricular program.
Some parents were supportive of the after-school model because it allowed Queensborough students the chance to participate in the program. But eventually it proved too troublesome for parents, who would have had to shuttle kids quickly from one school to another.
In the end, it came down to the importance of the program, and parents, teachers, students, and trustees all agreed band was too important to be offered outside of regular school hours.
Trustee David Phelan moved that the board approve the recommendation to provide the program during preparation time and in "subsequent years" look at offering a band program at Queensborough. His motion was quickly seconded and approved by all trustees.
"We recognize the importance of these types of programs to our society ... and we must do what we can to protect the program," Phelan said.
