Cutting the music program at the Hollister School District’s
elementary schools is a quick way to help save a struggling
district. But those in the program believe its effect will
eventually carry over to the celebrated Rancho-Maze middle school
band and eventually the San Benito High school band.
Cutting the music program at the Hollister School District’s elementary schools is a quick way to help save a struggling district. But those in the program believe its effect will eventually carry over to the celebrated Rancho-Maze middle school band and eventually the San Benito High school band.
“It’s something they (the school board) had to do,” middle school booster Steve Chase said, ” but it will affect music throughout Hollister.”
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The Hollister district board Dec. 14 cut the elementary music program for next year to help fill a $5.5 million deficit by 2013. The district also cut elementary sports and eliminated 11.3 full-time equivalent classified positions. There are additional teacher layoffs on the table as well.
To save the elementary music, and they hope with it Hollister’s musical heritage, Chase has joined with Tony Weir, from the high school booster club, and Anthony Ortega. The three parents and boosters, with the help of retired middle school instructor Joe Ostenson, created the “Save the Music Drive” with aspirations to fully fund two more years of music.
“It needs to continue because if the band is gone, what are those kids going to do?” Ortega said.
The drive hopes to collect $156,000 over the next two years to keep the program afloat briefly. The three boosters are aiming for half that amount before next school year. As of last week, the drive has collected nearly $5,000.
“After that we want the program to pay for itself,” Ortega said.
Eventually though, if successful, the band hopes to start a booster program for the elementary schools to continue fundraising.
All three boosters believe cutting the elementary program would bring fewer students to the Rancho-Maze band and eventually fewer to the high school band. Currently, elementary teacher Susan Silveria teaches nearly 600 students the craft of music.
See the full story in the Free Lance on Tuesday.
How to donate:
To help, the boosters are accepting donations through its website savehollistermusic.org or through the mail at: Baler Boosters, Attn: Save the Music, P.O. Box 373, Hollister, CA 95024.
