A Stronger Music Education Budget
It has been determined that music and arts are always the first to go when a school needs to cut a program due to a lack of funding. These departments, however, don’t always have enough funding either. When it comes to music and arts programs, there should be a stronger budget, so the programs can be more efficient and enjoyable in schools.
When it comes to budgeting music education, there are ways that the money given can be substantial. Pennridge High School band director Kevin Feher has stated that he does get enough funding for his program. “We use a Zero Balance budget to only ask for what you need to spend,” he finds that he doesn’t have an extreme need for more funding because of the budget plan in place. He elaborates on how the budgeting process works, “November and December is when the budget gets approved, which is before we could possibly know what we need. We have to overestimate what is needed to be prepared and when purchased can be used for next year if it isn’t all used.” He then points out that if everything accounted for does get used that is where the trouble comes in, but he has not experienced that issue.
To contradict what was previously argued there are ways where a lack of funding makes programs more difficult. Christa Schimitsch, a music educator at Pennridge High School explains the situation her budget puts her in. She believes that there is not enough for her extracurricular programs. Schimitsch emphasizes what she cannot have and use due to a lack of budget and how a bigger budget would benefit her program. “I would get an actual space that is a consistent classroom,” her classes are held on a stage of one of the LGI rooms at Pennridge. She continues into what would benefit her extracurricular programs, “an updated lightboard and sound system in the auditorium, and a larger budget for theater positions because there is a limited amount of positions that can be paid for.”
To conclude many solutions can be found through fundraising and pitching for more of a budget. It is a process that needs to be approved by boards of directors for financing in districts after a clear explanation of what is needed in the department. Fundraisers can aid extracurricular budgeting, but curricular budgeting must come from the government funds provided for the school.
Sources:
https://www.theperformingartsalliance.org/issue/federal-funding-for-arts-education/
Faith Harden, Grade 12. Interests/hobbies include Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Ice Hockey, and spending time with friends and family....
