Dear Lyme-Old Lyme Music friends,

While our “victory” came a month ago at the special Board of Education session, I have been keeping the petition open, anxious something would fall through and that we would once again need to rally to support our music department.

This week, the school budget passed in the annual referendum— all music teacher positions included and fully funded.

This may not be the last time we have to defend music in our hometown. We know things may change in the years to come. But this was the wrong move for our community now, and it would have negatively affected our students.

This push did not go unnoticed. It picked up stories in CT Examiner and LymeLine. Which, for local press about a music department, is more than I expected!

Thank you to everyone who shared, signed, promoted the petition, stood outside in the cold with signs, spoke at the Board of Ed meeting, and texted me asking for updates.

Thank you to current students—you are all braver than I was at your age, willingly speaking out in public and preparing statements!

Thank you to the alumni—it really warmed my heart to see the response from around the globe (truly, I mean that; some of you have traveled far and wide!)

And thank you to the parents and local community members, some of whom did not even have students in school right now—but they knew this was wrong and spoke out for their own kids and OTHER kids.

To the Board of Education and Mr Neviaser—I do not think any of you are bad people or monsters. I do want to say, for my part, that I have tried to be intentional in my messaging. Sometimes, when an idea is put out into the world, it takes its own form. I do believe you all want our schools to continue to be great. 
This was a tumultuous bout of local politics, and I’m impressed with the professionalism and willingness to learn/ask questions that this Board brought to the discussion. 

Lastly, to our wonderful music staff—

Matthew Guevara

Melissa Rostkoski

Sarah Evans

Laura Ventres

Jacob Wilson

and Kristine Pekar

You are so loved and appreciated for what you do, and I have never been more proud to be an LOL alum than I was on April 10, when I heard your incredible ideas at the special session. You earned that victory, every bit of it.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. 

With love,

Sarah