Happy Mid-July music lovers!

We wanted to provide an update for what is going on and what you can still do to support music education in Camas.  This is a brief update, so for more details please check out the information page on the website.

What is happening?

Camas HS has a new band director!  His name is Jarod Sorum, and while Mr. Mancini will be greatly missed, we are excited to have him. The position is still the reduced .8 FTE as opposed to full-time, but there is hope that can change. There is still no orchestra class being offered next year.
An Arts Advisory committee is in the works, and is being spearheaded by the wonderful Sarah Lightfoot.  The goal for this committee is for the district stake-holders and community members to work together-both to determine the route for music education in the future, and to avoid the missteps that occurred last year from happening again.  Invitations for this committee will be going out in September, so if you are interested in being a part of it, reach out to the district office soon.
There has been some conversation about a “pay to play” model for the middle school jazz program as a way to keep the ensembles going until the time the program can be fully funded again. This is meant to be a bridge during this financial difficulty, not a permanent solution. The ensembles would be offered during zero period because that is when all students have access to the class. Discussions include how to provide financial support where necessary to ensure all students have access. 
The Teacher’s Union has reached a tentative agreement with the district, but the vote for ratification will not be until August 11th.  We do not have any details for what is and is not included in the tentative agreement.

Our goal moving forward is to strengthen the music programs that were so deeply cut.  Short term, that would be seeing an increase in FTE for those teachers that were made part-time, and to have (at-minimum) a plan and time-line for those programs operating fully again.  Long term, we would like to see music fully funded again at all grade levels, including bringing back the lost 15 minutes at the elementary level.

What can we do now?

Superintendent Anzalone has stated that there will be FTE available, but how that is doled out will largely be up to the principals and the schools needs. Avoiding overloaded classes and maintaining safety are priorities, but how they schedule arts classes and fund clubs really can be impacted by YOU.

Here’s where you can help:

Email your principals and advocate for the music programs you love.  Things will look different this coming school year, but if enough people commit to their students taking band or choir, state their intention to enroll in zero period clubs, etc. we can make a difference. 

Write or call the principals at your schools:

Liberty Middle School 
Mandy Busby - mandy.busby@camas.wednet.edu 360-833-5850 x78207 (Interim Principal) 
Skyridge Middle School 
Clint Williams - clint.williams@camas.wednet.edu  360-833-5800 x79140 (Principal) 
Camas High School
Kelly O'Rourke - kelly.orourke@camas.wednet.edu 360-833-5750 ext. 71111 (Principal)

If you are wanting to support and be more involved in music education outside of this effort, please remember that it takes a village to make good music programs function.  Please consider showing up for school music events or volunteering with the Camas Music Boosters or your individual school programs.

If you are interested in volunteering with or donating to the boosters, please view the QR codes on our website.