Music supporters to show at board meeting despite agenda postponement

Sylvina Frausto has made an appeal to supporters of music in Woodland schools. Although not specific in the notice, Frausto wants the community to show up at the WJUSD board meeting on Thursday, June 12, to speak during the public comment period. Below is the text included on the postcard mailed to the parents of secondary school music students:

The future of the Music Department in our Woodland School District is in dire need of parent support. Decisions are being made that seriously affect the Music Program. We asked that the issue of the Music Program be placed on the Agenda for discussion at the June 12th School Board Meeting, yet, in a separate meeting, the Executive Advisory Committee decided to postpone our time until the August 14th meeting.

Where: WJUSD Board Room, 630 Cottonwood St.
Time: 6:30 PM
Contact: Sylvina Frausto, 662-9017

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This appeal stems from the recent resignation of Lee School music teacher Jorge Jimenez. Click the title of this story to access a related Daily Democrat article written by Lizeth Cazares. According to that article, Jimenez resigned after he was informed that the Lee Middle School music program would be reduced from four periods to three. The district informed him he would have to also work at Whitehead Elementary if he wanted the position next year.

Jimenez stated he does not want to split his time and is "burnt out" by having to deal with "unprofessionalism, harassment and politics" starting from the beginning of the school year. Soon into the 2007-08 academic year, Jimenez was laid-off by Lee School principal Garth Lewis for undisclosed reasons. Jimenez then contacted attorneys through the California Teachers Association and the district was forced to reinstate him for four periods.

Jimenez claims the harassment continued through the year.

With Jimenez' resignation, a group of concerned Lee School music parents met with the seven trustees, who encouraged the group to submit a request to be placed on the June 12 board meeting agenda. One trustee confirmed that the group met with many of the board members.

Apparently, an executive committee consisting of the board president, vice president and clerk are allowed to set the agendas on behalf of the entire board (Carol Souza Cole, Bill Beerman and Rosario Ruiz-Dark). Members of the executive committee chose to place the issue on the August 14 agenda. The next four regular board meetings are scheduled for June 12, June 26, July 10 and August 14.

According to an email sent from a music booster, the Lee parents are concerned because:

* They have lost a teacher who the kids respected and who was growing the program
* In 07-08 Lee School employed a .8 FTE (including 7th and 8th grade guitar, 7th and 8th grade band, and and intervention- funded jazz band)
* In 08-09 it is projected that Lee School will have a .6 FTE (including 7th grade guitar, 7th and 8th grade band and jazz band depending on the new hire).
* Lee School is the feeder to Woodland High School
* In 07-08 Woodland High School employed a 1.6 FTE
* In 08-09 it is projected that Woodland High School will have 1.2 FTE
* The other side of the district is seeing no reductions (Douglas Middle School - 1.0 FTE, no change; Pioneer High School - 1.8 FTE in 07-08, 2.0 FTE in 08-09)

The concerned parents claim that money is not an issue.