My name is Peter Midgley, and I have taught art at the middle school in Bethalto School District Unit 8 since 2011. However, I am writing to you as a parent, resident and taxpayer of Bethalto. Bethalto School District did not have an elementary school art teacher until 2018-2019. Even then, it was only for 5th grade for 3yrs before the art teacher was moved to teach K-1st grade Art for 2021-22, for a more convenient district schedule.

The purpose of this petition is to gather enough support from Bethalto CUSD8 residents to convince the Bethalto school board and administration to hire an additional art teacher. This new teacher would join the current art staff and help develop and deliver a new K-12 Art curriculum to Bethalto's younger students.

Both national education specialists and Bethalto educators, recognize young students benefit a great deal from being taught art by a qualified teacher to aid their creative development.  Art lessons exercise different parts of their brains. Not every kid is sporty. Not every kid is social, or musical. Not every kid is good at reading, writing, math and other core subjects. 

Where does that leave our visually creative students? Under-served. This petition is trying to help those students feel like their interests are valued by Bethalto School district, and given a chance to develop during their K-5 education. The grade level they do have art, should not depend on what is most convenient for the district. 

I have already delivered a speech to the school board requesting this change, on behalf of the art department and a few Bethalto parents who support this cause. Your signature on this petition will serve as further evidence that Bethalto School districts residents wants to catch up with Alton, East Alton, Wood River, Roxana, Edwardsville, Troy and other Madison County elementary schools and provide art at the K-5 level to fully educate our future generations.