We believe that all our students deserve a robust arts and music education as part of the basic education provided by our schools. We believe a seamless, sequential arts plan starting with our elementary schools, leading to middle schools, then to our high schools, should be envisioned by our District.

California Proposition 28 was voted into law in November of 2022. It will provide supplemental annual funding for arts education each year. (You can read more about it here: CA Proposition 28 information ) 

Right now we stand at a crucial juncture in making sure Ventura Unified School District puts in motion an effective plan to best utilize this additional funding to serve all our students, remedy current music education gaps, and assist our current music and arts programs.  Our District's current plan to utilize Prop 28 funds, presented to the Board last month, was a patchwork of varied and unequal site plans, since each principal was relied upon to develop a plan individually. VUSD Site Specific Prop 28 plans

We want to hold our District accountable in thoughtfully revising and implementing its current Master Arts Plan, which due to COVID and District administration and teacher turnover, has been largely neglected in the past several years.  We feel strongly that our District should set and stand by a clear framework of curriculum standards and goals for ALL Arts disciplines (not just Music, but Visual Arts, Theatre, Media Arts, and Dance), for all grade levels, regardless of whatever current funding streams are available.  

A Ventura Unified School District-wide Master Arts Plan shows the voting public that their taxes are being well spent!  Any future measures, such as a parcel tax, would have a better chance of success with such a plan.

Please let our District Leadership know that you care about the building of strong and sustainable arts programs for our students! 

By signing, this petition, you are letting our District leadership know that:

1) I value the Arts in our students' public school education!
2) We support a District Master Arts plan that considers all our school sites and students across the District, regardless of gender, race, ability, or economic background. 
3) Our current District Master Arts plan particularly lags behind in meeting the California Arts Standards for music in elementary school.  4 hours per year for each student is not enough!
4) Prop 28 funds can be used to create strategic curriculums across our elementary schools that will then build interest and support our middle school programs, which in turn will make sure our District maintains vigorous and high performing high school programs. Music requires continuity from elementary to middle to high school for students to reach their full potential. 

If your focus is one of the arts other than music, please feel free to add your comments below!

Want to do more than sign this petition? Please show your support in person at the Special Board Meeting focusing on Music and Arts on March 19th at 4:30 pm at the District Office (255 W. Stanley Avenue)!

 

For more information:

Parent Advocates for Music website:

PAM Website

PAM email: pam4ventura@gmail.com

Facebook: PAM Ventura • Instagram: PAM Ventura