LOWER LAKE — Konocti Unified School District (KUSD) board of trustees held a workshop Wednesday in its process to develop a budget for the next academic year. The Carol McClung Conference Room at the district office in Lower Lake was overflowing with parents, students, teachers and other citizens concerned with the possible elimination of some programs and cuts to services.
The majority of those in attendance were present to speak to the possible elimination of some arts curriculum at the grammar and intermediate levels. Students, parents and teachers urged the board to reconsider the proposed elimination of drama instruction at the seventh and eighth grade levels.
Currently, seventh and eighth grade drama students, as well as band students, are being bused to Lower Lake High School (LLHS) for two periods of instruction. The Zero Based Budget model used to create the next district budget, proposes to eliminate drama at the intermediate level completely and reduce band to one period with Cydney Dixon, band teacher, traveling to the students. Elementary band is proposed to be eliminated entirely.
The district is looking at $2.8 million in state cuts and additional expenses including a $700,000 cut in transportation funding. According to KUSD Superintendent Bill MacDougall, funding the drama program costs about $30,000 for wages and about $10,000 for student transportation.
Clearlake Vice Mayor Jeri Spittler urged the board to seek the assistance of the community and give the public an opportunity to raise the money to fund the drama program before making a final decision to cut it. “Maybe we need to get a committee together (to fund) the drama program,” she said.
LLHS drama student Fallon Diener, 12th grade, who aspires to be an actress, spoke to benefits she found having the opportunity to engage in the program at the intermediate level. She said elimination of drama among seventh and eighth graders will impact the high school drama program. “(The opportunity) teaches kids who can”t play sports that they have another option,” she said, adding that 106 students signed-up for the program this year.
Diener said drama students utilize their English skills and writing talents, composing their own pieces for the program. She said that seventh and eighth grade students “feed” the high school drama program. “I am asking you as a student who benefited from the program,” she said. “Please, don”t let drama die.”
The student”s mother, Patty Diener, also spoke, commending her daughter on her well-delivered speech, while noting that her daughter”s impeccable public speaking skills were honed via the drama program. Patty said while she understands that cuts are unavoidable, she would prefer to see them applied with more balance. “If music is going to the children, then why isn”t the drama, too?” she asked. “It needs to be fair and across the board.”
Drama Instructor Tracy Lahr answered from the audience that she would be willing to bring the drama program to the students. MacDougall then said that the purpose of the workshop was to discuss possible solutions.
A prior discussion initiated by MacDougall as an example of what the board was seeking in providing questionnaires for speakers at the workshop, led to another possible solution with regard to adult school education. Staff will further explore the possibility of moving the school to the Highlands Academy campus and re-categorizing the instruction to meet requirements for retaining funding for displaced students who reach the age of 18 years.
Trustee Hank Montgomery said that discussions will be ongoing with ample opportunities for public input prior to the adoption of the district”s budget.
