Klarinet Archive - Posting 000728.txt from 1998/04

From: "James D. Lytthans" <Lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: Music Budgets
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 07:52:40 -0400

Regarding school music programs:

I'm happy to say that in the Los Angeles USD in particular (and
California in general), music is on the rise. Our State superintendent,
Diane Easton, firmly believes in Fine Arts, and has put money where her
mouth is. Even our Rabid Republican governer, Pete Wilson, is backing
better funding of public education, with more funds for the arts.
California is a cash cow these days (that heavens!), so we can afford
music for the time being. The Federal Goals 2000 plan really integrates
the arts into the total school curriculum, and the Los Angeles USD is,
for the first time in many years, funding a full k-12 music program. My
school, a 6-8 middle school, now has a growing instrumental (strings and
winds) program, with about 140+ students play instruments. The local
elementary schools (8 that feed us) are slowly re-building their
instrumental and vocal programs, so in a few years my beloved feeder
program will hopefully be a fact again. I've spent over $26K this year
on my program, with new instruments, books, music, and good Wenger
chairs. The 55+ year-old band room is being re-modelled, with new
floors, practice rooms, storage, lights, and A/C. That's primarily due
to a local $2.6 billion bond issue that was passed by the voters last
year. Such a vote requires a 2/3s majority in California now, because
of the cursed Proposition 13 passed in the early '70s.

Good news about music can be found in some places!
--
Jim Lytthans
Principal Clarinet, La Mirada SO & Claremont Symphonic Winds
Anaheim, CA
http://home.pacbell.net/lytthans/index.html