Dear Dr. Ponds and Members of the Montclair Board of Education,

The Hillside PTA is deeply troubled by the looming budget deficit of $5.5 million and the potential implications on our Hillside School community. As the Gifted and Talented magnet, Hillside School provides a robust visual and performing arts program for its student population. The school also maintains a diverse staff and student body.

There have been no public details about the specific cuts to our school and others, however, it seems evident that reductions in staff will most likely occur. We respectfully request that you preserve our essential magnet program. Please do not reduce or eliminate the related arts programs at Hillside School. Last year, the parents in our school community lobbied fervently to retain our instrumental music and art teachers. We eventually lost a beloved art teacher but thankfully gained another from our sister school at the eleventh hour. Please, do not put our students and staff through this uncertainty again.

Any personnel cuts to the related arts, such as drama, music, visual art, dance, threaten the vitality of the Hillside School magnet. This program was specifically designed to entice families to our school as a way of integrating our district, thus ensuring the diversity of schools in the southern end of town. Eliminating or reducing the access to these programs in any way is an affront to our core values. Additionally, studies have shown that arts education has tremendous positive outcomes on student achievement, reduces stress and improves attendance.

The Hillside PTA requests that the Central Office administration and Board of Education be more transparent about this budget process and future budget talks and address key questions: Why are we facing such steep deficits? Why does it appear as though Hillside is being targeted? What is the strategic plan to regain control of costs in the budget and find alternate sources of revenue? What is being done to ensure the magnet programs at Hillside and other district schools will be preserved?

Rising costs are not a new problem, but we’d hoped the district and school board would work together to protect our school programs from such steep cuts. Please do not allow Montclair to lose the essence of what makes its schools so special and valued – our magnets.

We are counting on our district officials and school board to explore every option for the coming school year to maintain the integrity of our magnet schools and the invaluable educational experience they provide our children and plan accordingly in future budget seasons.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

We the undersigned below support this letter drafted by the Hillside PTA. It will be presented to the superintendent and Montclair Board of Education at the budget meeting on May 15