FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Parents Protest Cuts in Schools’ Programs

A proposal by the Fountain Valley School District to cut an instrumental music program to balance next school year’s budget has hit a sour note with parents.

Plans to slash hours of school librarians also stirred protest among parents and library workers at last week’s Board of Trustees meeting.

Parents, teachers and students opposed to eliminating the two programs appealed to trustees to save them and submitted petitions supporting their positions.

District officials said about $250,000 in cutbacks are needed to balance the projected $24-million 1994-95 budget.

Marc Ecker, assistant superintendent of administration and business, said the district has no choice but to make budget reductions because revenue isn’t as high as expected and the district continues to lose money due to declining enrollment.

Ecker said that as a first step to balance the budget, $170,000 was shaved from district office overhead and operating expenses. Savings if the music program for fourth- and fifth-graders were eliminated would be $114,000, Ecker said.

About 375 students participate in the program, said Catherine Follett, director of curriculum and instruction.

The proposal to cut the library program would trim services at each of the 11 schools. Librarians’ hours were reduced a few years ago and currently employees work 3 1/2 hours to 5 1/2 hours a day, Follett said. Under the budget cut proposal, librarians would work about three hours a day at each school, she said.

Ecker said the result would be a $66,000 savings.

Other proposed cuts include reducing night custodian work hours to save about $45,000 and limiting trustee conference and membership costs, at a saving of $6,000.

Trustees plan to meet again today to discuss the budget. A final vote is scheduled for June 23.

Parents and music students at Fountain Valley High School told trustees that the music program is essential in a child’s early development and increases students’ self-esteem as well as piquing interest in fine arts.

Nick Dinger, 16, was among the high school’s music students who testified about the benefits of keeping the elementary program. Dinger, who will be next year’s drum major, said music has affected every aspect of his life.

“I found that music was something I was good at,” he told trustees. “It’s shaped my personality and given me a chance to be a leader.”

Follett said the district is looking at alternative ways to provide a music program. One suggestion is to offer low-cost music lessons after or before school with parents paying the cost, she said. A scholarship fund could also be developed for children whose parents couldn’t afford to pay.

Sheryl Hamlin, a 17-year district employee and library services specialist who is retiring this summer, said the proposed library services cuts affect “every single student in our district.”

“Libraries to me are just so basic to a child’s learning,” she said. “The kids are going to be the losers.”