Dear Milton Parent,

As you may have heard, music programming could suffer further cutbacks at the elementary school level, according to the most recent budget proposals under consideration by the School Committee. As the co-chairs of Friends and Advocates for Music Education, we write to ask your help ensuring that music programs at the elementary level and across all grades continue at full or additional funding. The only way we can accomplish this is with the help of Milton parents.

It is crucial for parents who believe in the power and value of the Milton’s award-winning chorus, band and strings programs to communicate with school and town leaders in the next two weeks. Elementary music programs are the foundation upon which the accomplishments of our student singers and musicians are built. The elementary program has suffered significant budget cuts in recent years – to the level where Milton elementary students receive less music programming than students in any other peer town. That alone puts at risk a music program that has traditionally seen its students ranked among the most accomplished performers at competitions such as the Great East Festival, the South Eastern Massachusetts School Bandmasters Association festivals, the Massachusetts Music Educators Association Eastern District festivals, and the MMEA All-State festival. Many young Milton musicians and singers perform for such esteemed youth groups as the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, the New England Conservatory Youth Symphony and the Riverside Theater Works, to name a view. These accomplishments begin with elementary music education.

At the moment, a proposal to cut $114,000 in music, arts and enrichment programs would eliminate elementary strings and band programs, which provide crucial instructional time and introduce students to ensemble performance. It is expected that the Warrant Committee could vote on this issue in mid-February, so we need your help as soon as possible.

Our group, FAME (Friends and Advocates of Music Education), supports the music programs at Milton High School, but it is clear that music requires vocal supporters at all grade levels. We are asking parents from all schools – but particularly at the elementary school level – to join us as advocates for an appropriate budget for music education in all Milton schools.

We encourage you to forward this message to your friends, email your PTO/PTSFO membership lists and post to your websites. We encourage you and other parents to write to Superintendent Mary Gormley, members of the School Committee, the Warrant Committee and the Board of Selectmen (contact information is below). Parents can also speak directly to the School Committee meeting on Wednesday, February 1, at 7 p.m. at the MHS Library.

We know parents have very busy schedules, but these programs represent educational excellence at its best in the Milton Public School. A modest investment of time can help ensure town officials understand how valued these programs are and make them budgetary priorities.

Please let us know if you are willing to assist with this effort and let us know if you have any questions. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Karen Friedman-Hanna and Grace Marinelli
Co-Chairs
Friends and Advocates of Music Education (FAME)

Contact Information for Local Officials:

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:

MILTON SCHOOL COMMITTEE:

MILTON BOARD OF SELECTMEN:

WARRANT COMMITTEE: