We, in Winnetka, IL, support full time art & music teachers

12 years ago Featured

My daughters attended Hubbard Woods School and are now College graduates. The arts and music programs were among the reasons that we chose to move to the district. Both daughters played instruments and one now has a career in the music industry, Please continue to support this vital part of our students education.

Such short sightedness. Our country is already in a dearth of the Arts, Culture and the like and you want to cut even more. Shame on you all.

We, The Committee for Option A to Retain Full-Time Fine Arts Teachers, have good news and bad news: The good news: Hubbard Woods Music teacher will retain his full-time status and remain at HW. The Greeley Art and Music will remain in their current positions full time. The bad news: Option C (cutting HW Art to .8 part-time position) was unanimously passed by the board. HW Art teacher, Julie McDonough, will be presented with her new part-time status. We are uncertain of her future at this time. We want to thank you all for your continued support regarding this issue, in helping in any way you can. We, as a community, demonstrated in a very short period of time, how we can organize. And through this, our teachers received a positive message that they are valued. The administrators and board of education are watching this petition/forum discussion. Please continue to post discussions as you are being heard. There is continued help needed with this cause. Please let one of us know if you are interested in helping. The Committee To Retain Full-Time Fine Arts Teachers: Nancy Riddle John Riddle Lowey Sichol Adam Sichol Kitty Westol Mark Westol Connie Capone Lee Ann Rechtin Mike Rechtin Monica Sofranko Jena Radnay Flannery Buchanan Erin Donaldson Clarke Caywood, concerned resident and taxpayer with no children currently in the K-8 system

This is an essential part of a child's education--a core discipline that ensure a holistic education.

Keep the full time Art and Music teachers at each school!

I support Option A

Art, like morality, consists of drawing the line somewhere. G. K. Chesterton

I support option A

We live in Winnetka and pay these taxes so we can have these benefits of full time teachers of the fine arts!

Please keep our art and music program as a crucial part of our progressive education curriculum.

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We need to figure out a way to retain the full time fine arts program, and the teachers who enlighten our children.

From all parents, the points have surfaced over and over again: 1. None of the options address the problem of Crow Island’s overload. 2. We are all saying we do not want a “part-time faculty model” for elementary students. It is more appropriate for adults. We value the “relationship”. Teaching the whole child means having a whole teacher. 3. The ripple effect to cutting one person effects all…and for a very small amount of money (Ms. Mac would prefer to teach younger kids, but would "bump" the jr. high teacher. From a staffing perspective, we want the teachers in their passionate subjects teaching the ages they prefer. 4. Further review is necessary to consider other budget-cutting options. 5. And a question: why wasn't the fine arts department asked to help problem solve? Julie Mac said she is "flexible" and said she is willing to travel to Crow Island to help with the load. This was not on any three options.

Arts & music are a key component to our children's amazing education. Do not cut this!!

Academic learning educates only one part of the child. The arts educate the innovative and creative part of a child. We need both to have a fully actualized student for the future.

A life-long passion for music and art is most likely to be established in early grade school, through teachers who are energetic and passionate. Rob Denien and Julie McDonough are passionate, talented educators who give our early learners great gifts. My first-grader talks about these two teachers more than any others. They are an integral part if her excitement about art and music, and life at Hubbard Woods in general. If the district removes these unique teachers from my child's Hubbard Woods educational experience, or reduces the amount of exposure to these essential programs, I feel Hubbard Woods will lose a major component of what makes it such a special school for early education. Please consider finding another way to shift resources.

These programs are absolutely essential to ensuring a positive, balanced and rich educational experience for my children -- for all children. We are extremely fortunate to have our Hubbard Woods teachers sharing their many gifts with our little people every day. I know this because they tell me how much they love their specials and the teachers that make their mornings and afternoons so special! Please don't make the mistake of cutting back on these programs -- on the enrichment of our children. We expect the best from this district and the schools our taxes help to fund!!

Please save our fine arts teachers

We should absolutely not cut any part of the music or art programs. Ms. Mac and Mr. Denien were unbelievably integral to my kids love of school and growth during their time at Hubbard Woods.

maintain the success!!