Public Speaks Out for School Music, Furloughs in Budget Session

Nearly 100 people packed into the multi-purpose room Thursday to hear about proposed cuts to middle and high school funding, and speak out for the aspects of school that are most important to them. 

The could vote on the cuts . (See the board agenda as a PDF to the right.)

Parents, teachers and numerous high school students stepped up to the podium to share their thoughts, which revolved mostly around the importance of school music, an aversion to a six-period day, and an openness, from many, to the idea of staff furloughs.

"Furloughs help to preserve program," said Loring Barker, a high school teacher and negotiator for the Albany Teachers Association. "It means a few less days for everybody, but it does save full programs."

Barker said he's seen more narrow cuts to sports and arts programs in the past that have led to the loss of key teachers.

"You cut (a program) enough that you can't support a teacher.... The teacher left and the program died. There have been sports programs where coaches get cut. The program just dies. It withers on the vine," Barker said. "Furlough days are a way to spread that cut out."

It was the second public budget session in Albany this week. The first, on Monday, revolved around .

The school district may cut as much as $1.76 million, or 21.67 positions, due to a potential loss of about $330 per ADA. The district currently receives about $5,200 per ADA from the state. (Some of the district's numbers have changed slightly since Monday's session.)

"We must operate and have a plan for our operations, and we must have it in June," said district . "This is prospective, but it is serious."

Many in California tried to get extensions of current taxes onto the next ballot, which would have maintained current K-12 funding levels, according to Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget. The legislature still could decide to extend the measures, without voter approval, but whether this will happen remains unknown.

Stephenson said there may be a $1.2 million gap in the budget, but that she may need to cut more because of how the cuts are tied to specific positions. 

"Although we try to pin these reductions down to the person to get a real good estimate of how much we'll save, it's better to plan for more reductions and then wait and see," she said. "On an average, 10 to 30 percent (of the cuts) won't be implemented, or you're not going to save as much as you thought you would." 

Seventh through 12th graders could shift to a six-period day, officials said. 

District wide stipends, which support athletic coaches among other positions, could be cut for a savings of nearly $40,000. There were few details at Thursday's meeting about how this might , other than that there might have to be cuts to assistant coaches or more general cuts to sports.

could lose two teachers, its security guard, and face reductions to its librarian and paraeducator positions.

At the high school, three-and-a-half teacher positions could be cut, along with 18 classes. Officials said they don't yet have details on what those classes would be. High school staff are currently going through student surveys about which classes they'd like to take; these surveys could affect offerings if cuts are made. 

High School Principal Ted Barone said going to what's known as a "six-period day" does not actually mean only six periods would be offered. 

The school is looking at adding a "zero period" that could start at 7:15 a.m., which could shift the first block of classes to an 8:15 a.m. start-time. The school is also looking at two-hour blocks to make sure instructional minute requirements are met; the blocks could include a 15 minute study session. This could also mean the end of the current "advisory," or study hall, period. 

But just because the zero period is offered, it doesn't mean it will be available to all, officials said. 

"Less kids will be taking seven periods," said the superintendent. "There's no getting around it."

Details about specific classes that could be cut were few, though Barone said the school might cut "a couple sections" of the five photography classes, and might also cut or change the computer science offerings. 

Barone said the district also has been looking at ways to make it easier for students to fulfill graduation requirements using "different kinds of pathways," such as online courses. The board voted earlier this year to expand the number of credits possible through "alternative means," he said. 

Many members of the public said, even with a zero period, students would have fewer chances to take electives, which could severely impact the music program, particularly in relation to the continuity of instruction, which starts for many in elementary school. 

"In a six-period model, there's not a spot for electives for ninth or 10th graders," said . "The zero period requires kids to be at school longer days. It punishes kids that want to take a seventh period."

He also pointed out the school music program's national reputation. 

"It's something that's really prized in our community," he said. "A music program like ours takes a decade to build... and it takes less than a year to demolish it."

Parent Alexandra Saur, whose daughter is a senior, said proposed cuts to school music could affect . 

"The children who don't have music education privately from home are most impacted if we don't have continuity," she said. "The children that have music education at home, they can jump back in."

Many parents and students said school music makes their school lives bearable, and is by far the best part of the school-day experience.

"If we have a six-period day, I won't be able to take choir," said one student. "And I know a ton of people who are in the same situation." 

Tenth grader Alex Malanche said, after the meeting, a six-period day would pose tough choices. 

"I feel conflicted about it," he said. "I play sports and do music. Either way, I'll lose one thing I love doing."

Some suggested removing the IHS requirement for freshman, to free up a possible slot for music. (The class is not required for graduation.) Others asked if music could potentially count toward the UC requirement for applied arts. 

Other students said it could be hard to fit all the graduation requirements into a six-period day.

"I know that some seniors are retaking some classes they've missed or failed in previous years because there is no summer school. They're trying to take that other class in their seven-period day," said Elizabeth Kreter-Killian, a sophomore. "I don't know how (the six-period day) would work for people to graduate."

Steve Sims, whose daughter is in 11th grade, offered another alternative to parents who want to help Albany schools.

"I think we all hope that these taxes keep going, but it occurs to me, if they don't, I'm gonna get a tax cut," he said. "Me and thousands of other families in Albany are going to get a tax cut. Maybe the board and others can encourage local families to take that money that would have gone to the state and just give it to the schools. I think that's not gonna solve the whole program. But that will solve a substantial part of it." 

A video of the session will be available online here.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.