After the Greater Victoria School District board passed a budget that did not include funding for the Elementary Strings music program, parents stepped up and fundraised to make up the difference.
At Monday’s school board meeting, Karin Kwan, a representative for Advocacy for Music In Schools (AMIS) group, said the group had successfully fundraised $208,000 needed to fund the program for another year.
“I know there are many parents and students watching tonight who will be extremely excited about this news,” Kwan said, presenting to the board. “We believe the Elementary Strings Program is a shining light in the Greater Victoria School District. Parents, students and the community clearly believe that this is a program worth saving.”
The funds, which Kwan noted had a condition to be used only for the Elementary Strings Program, were accepted by the board in a 5-2 vote.
Trustees Tom Ferris and Elaine Leonard voted against accepting the funds. Ferris said he would like to see the funds put towards writing or arithmetic programs instead, and Leonard raised concerns that the strings program may not be offered equitably to all elementary schools in the district.
Trustee Ann Whiteaker said the community raising the funds to save the program show that it is a valued part of elementary schools in the district.
“What I am hearing from parents and from students and from teachers, and I’m seeing in the fact that in two weeks they have raised $200,000 is we’ve made a mistake,” Whiteaker said. “We made a mistake when we pass that budget, we cut strings, we didn’t listen. They want strings and we are accountable to our population and to our people to provide them what they want.”
Laura Brougham
