400+ Speak Up & the School Committee Refuses to Put Loker Music on Monday’s Agenda - NOW WE NEED YOU

WE NEED YOU MONDAY.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2026 - 6:00 PM
WAYLAND TOWN BUILDING - 41 COCHITUATE ROAD

More than 400+ Wayland and Boston (METCO) parents, caregivers, and community members have signed our petition opposing the reduction of 4th- and 5th-grade instrumental music from 75 to 45 minutes per week - a 40% reduction. Now we need people to show up in person!

Attend the meeting. Submit public comment. Contact the School Committee - Contact Chair ERIN GIBBONS (wps_sc@waylandps.org). Bring your neighbors. Bring your family.

ASK:

• WHY IS THE LOKER MUSIC PILOT NOT ON THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AGENDA?
• WHY HAVE FAMILIES RECEIVED MULTIPLE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE SAME 30-MINUTE REDUCTION WITH ZERO EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE CUT?
• WHAT ALTERNATIVES WERE CONSIDERED BEFORE TAKING MUSIC FROM OUR CHILDREN?
• WHAT WILL ACTUALLY BE MEASURED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS “PILOT” WORKS?

And most importantly: WHY SHOULD OUR CHILDREN BE THE ONES TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THE DISTRICT'S SCHEDULING, RESOURCE DECISIONS, AND PROBLEMS?

WHY THIS MATTERS: Families have emailed. They have attended meetings. They have spoken directly with administrators and SC members. They have submitted letters and asked substantive questions. More than 400+ have now signed the petition. And yet, the SC agenda was posted today, Friday  -  just THREE days before Monday's meeting - with NO agenda item addressing the Loker music pilot, the petition, or the concerns raised by hundreds of community members.

That should concern ALL OF US.

This is not simply about music. It is about how decisions affecting our children are made - and whether public input actually matters.

THE DISTRICT'S RATIONALE KEEPS CHANGING: Principal Jones's June 22nd communication cited:

• an alleged 160-minute weekly scheduling deficit
• alleged declining ELA MCAS scores
• an alleged need for 30 additional minutes of English literacy instruction for Caminos/Spanish Immersion
• and the need to “support overall literacy” 

The June 10 School Committee presentation was even more specific, stating: “Need 30 minutes more to teach Caminos in 4th and 5th.”

Now, in the district's back-to-school communication, families are being told that the 30 minutes are intended to address Science and Social Studies instructional time.

So, which is it?

ARE WE CHASING NOMINAL GAINS AT A SIGNIFICANT COST? Approximately 75% of Loker students meet or exceed ELA expectations, compared with roughly 42% statewide. And in 2025, Wayland 8th-grade Civics and Science MCAS both ranked at the 99th percentile statewide, with 82% and 83% of students meeting or exceeding expectations, respectively. Wayland's elementary schools are already high-performing schools: Loker's DESE accountability percentile is 86%, compared with 95% for Happy Hollow and 91% for Claypit Hill.

Continuous improvement matters. But what exactly is the administration trying to achieve? Or, is there more going on behind the scenes than meets the surface here? What's going on with the budget?

Why are we willing to take 40% of instrumental music away from children in pursuit of additional instructional time when the district has not demonstrated that this change will produce a meaningful improvement in outcomes? Are we willing to sacrifice a meaningful part of our children's music education to chase nominal gains in already high-performing academic outcomes? More instructional time does not automatically mean better outcomes.

If scheduling is the root issue, why is the burden placed on music rather than re-evaluating the schedule itself,  including the disruptive early-release Wednesdays?

The district has also cited music-teacher scheduling constraints and the fact that instrumental teachers serve multiple schools. But a staffing or scheduling constraint is not, by itself, an educational reason to reduce students' access to music, especially for only one of the three elemetnary schools and its students.

AND THEN THERE IS THE QUESTION OF PRIORITIES: If the district says it does not have enough time or resources to preserve 30 minutes of music, WHAT OTHER ALTERNATIVES WERE SERIOUSLY EXAMINED FIRST? Have district administrators and the School Committee examined administrative staffing, non-instructional expenditures, contracts, and other spending priorities with the same scrutiny being applied to a program that directly serves students?

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO OVERSEE THE DISTRICT'S PRIORITIES AND BUDGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before asking students to give up 40% of their instrumental music instruction, families deserve to know that every reasonable alternative has been considered.

WHY SHOULD OUR CHILDREN BE THE ONES TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THE DISTRICT'S SCHEDULING AND RESOURCE DECISIONS?

WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS “PILOT” TESTING? If the district moves forward, what are the measurable criteria for success?

Is it testing:

• improved literacy?
• improved Science and Social Studies coverage?
• reduced classroom disruption?
• improved scheduling flexibility?
• something else?
• HOW WILL THE DISTRICT KNOW WHETHER THE PILOT WORKED? And if the reduction is considered “successful,” WILL THIS BECOME THE MODEL FOR HAPPY HOLLOW AND CLAYPIT HILL?

These are exactly the questions the elected School Committee should be asking.

Instead, more than 400+ have raised concerns, and the issue isn't even on Monday's public agenda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS BIGGER THAN MUSIC!!!!!  It is about whether community input actually matters in Wayland. It is about whether elected officials will exercise meaningful oversight.

It is about whether decisions affecting our children are supported by evidence, transparency, and a coherent educational plan.

DEMOCRACY DOES NOT END WHEN WE CAST OUR BALLOTS!!!!! It requires elected officials to listen, ask hard questions, examine the evidence, and remain accountable to the people they represent.

400+ RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE THIS EASY TO IGNORE.

IF WE WANT THEM TO LISTEN, WE NEED TO SHOW UP.

PLEASE BE THERE MONDAY.

MONDAY, AUGUST 24 | 6:00 PM
WAYLAND TOWN BUILDING | 41 COCHITUATE ROAD

BRING YOUR FAMILY. BRING YOUR NEIGHBORS. BRING YOUR VOICE.