This is a student led petition

 

Burnsville High School's administration made the announcement that they will be cutting their choir program in half due to lack of school funding. They informed us that BHS cannot support smaller elective classes of 16 or even 20 students. The two classes being discontinued next year are, Vocal Sparks (formally known as freshman choir) and the a Capella group, Freestyle. We were only informed of their decision now at the end of the school year and all we ask for is a fighting chance.

Choir is not only a place of learning but also a place for building community and engagement in and outside of the school building. To get rid of the not only our advanced auditioned class but also our begginers class is to get rid of half of a community.

Our Beginners class serves as an introduction to not only the choir program but the music and theatre program as a whole. Vocal sparks creates an opportunity for choir beginners of all ages to learn the basics and build their skills from the ground up. To get them ready to take their next teps into more challenging choir classes, such as Freestyle. Without Vocal sparks, Students with different levels of skills will all be placed in one big group, making it harder for them to get the support they need. 

When it comes to funding and community engagement, Freestyle does most of the work. Not only do they do majority of the funding for the choir department, with Jazz Cafe and selling Singing grams but the a Capella group also sings at the Winter lighting ceremony in the heart of Burnsville, They visit and perform in our Senior communities, They perform in the Homecoming Pep fest as well as the Homecoming Football game, and they are also great motivator to join the Music department at Burnsville High School. 

Freestyle is a good representation of the BHS choir department and everything BHS has to offer. They show that with hard work and passion everything is possible. This year, Freestyle had the opportunity to work with One Voice, a professional choir. Freestyle had the opportunity to perform in a One voice Concert, singing with them and two other auditioned BHS choirs (Bell Canto, our soprano-alto choir, and Concert choir.)

Getting rid of Freestyle means getting rid of all these community events and outreach and well as getting rid of one of the main ways to get funding for the Choir and Music department.

All we ask for is a fighting chance.