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
Updates
May 11, 2023
Reaching this point has been a long and draining climb but seeing so many people join the fight gives me the energy to keep pushing. The administration cannot ignore this level of concern forever. We are staying in this fight because our arts programs are worth the effort.
15 Comments
Dr. Ponds For many students the arts are the primary means in which they remain fully engaged in the educational process. It will reduce their overall enthusiasm . Many parents chose the arts magnet for that specific reason. The cuts will shortchange many of the students you have committed to work for
My son is in the Traveling Troupe and has blossomed as a student and young man as a result of his experience with the group and Mr. Puff. You must preserve this and the other creative programs at Hillside
As we all know, exposure to arts and music enhance not only the academic life of kids, but all aspects. Many of the children in district (and especially at Hillside) do not have access to the arts outside of school. Please do not deny our kids the opportunity to have a well rounded and fulfilling education.
As a parent of a 4th grader at Hillside, I am very concerned about these potential cuts to our school’s staff, as well as to our arts and music programs which are the heart of our magnet.
We cant be subjected to this level of uncertainty regarding our visual and performing arts programming every single year.
Save Mr. Poff and the arts programs!
This is beyond unacceptable. When you completely deconstruct the magnet, what is the draw to go to Nish/Hillside? There's no respect for the hardworking teachers or students who this is going to impact. Dr. Ponds and the BoE this is absolutely disgraceful!
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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
Updates
May 11, 2023
Reaching this point has been a long and draining climb but seeing so many people join the fight gives me the energy to keep pushing. The administration cannot ignore this level of concern forever. We are staying in this fight because our arts programs are worth the effort.
15 Comments
Drama class at Hillside with Mr. Poff has helped my child gain more confidence and better his communications and socialization skills. These skills have helped him to excel in other academic areas. I worry without the arts aesthetics at Hillside, all of the student’s academic performance and scoring will suffer.
Dr. Ponds For many students the arts are the primary means in which they remain fully engaged in the educational process. It will reduce their overall enthusiasm . Many parents chose the arts magnet for that specific reason. The cuts will shortchange many of the students you have committed to work for
My son is in the Traveling Troupe and has blossomed as a student and young man as a result of his experience with the group and Mr. Puff. You must preserve this and the other creative programs at Hillside
As we all know, exposure to arts and music enhance not only the academic life of kids, but all aspects. Many of the children in district (and especially at Hillside) do not have access to the arts outside of school. Please do not deny our kids the opportunity to have a well rounded and fulfilling education.
As a parent of a 4th grader at Hillside, I am very concerned about these potential cuts to our school’s staff, as well as to our arts and music programs which are the heart of our magnet.
We cant be subjected to this level of uncertainty regarding our visual and performing arts programming every single year.
Save Mr. Poff and the arts programs!
This is beyond unacceptable. When you completely deconstruct the magnet, what is the draw to go to Nish/Hillside? There's no respect for the hardworking teachers or students who this is going to impact. Dr. Ponds and the BoE this is absolutely disgraceful!
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Drama class at Hillside with Mr. Poff has helped my child gain more confidence and better his communications and socialization skills. These skills have helped him to excel in other academic areas. I worry without the arts aesthetics at Hillside, all of the student’s academic performance and scoring will suffer.