Key Arts Committee Plan - Oct. 15, 2009

Goal of the committee:

We are tasked with exploring ways to improve the Arts Program at Key, and making a recommendation to the Principal.

What is the problem or opportunity we are responding to?

The spring, 2009 LSRT parent survey results revealed that parents rate the arts as the weakest aspect of Key's program. Several issues were raised about the current arts program at Fillmore. Problems included uneven quality of teaching, discipline standards and expectations different than Key's, uneven communication, perceived flaws in curriculum design, sending young children off-site. Positives included visual art instruction, new facility, and the array of choices for older children. More detail can be found in the LSRT Parent Survey summary and the LSRT Summary of qualitative answers on the arts.

Context Financial:

Fillmore costs $293 per pupil/year, or $102, 550. Included in the package is our PE teacher, Mr. Colton. Were he on our regular payroll, we would pay $81,185 to DCPS for him. The arts portion of our program, then, effectively costs $21,365. Cost of a full-time arts or music teacher hired through DCPS would be $81,185.

Is there flexibility on other parts of our DCPS budget?

We're not sure what autonomy will mean yet. DCPS compelled us to hire certain specialized teachers this past year, but we may have more flexibility in the future.

Just a note: DCPS required us to get a social worker for the 2009-2010 school year, but never sent that person, so Key had a nice surplus in the budget when the budget cuts were announced. That, and the fact that we exceeded our projected student #s, meant that we didn't need to make any cuts this fall (in fact, we have a slight surplus).

The point is, stuff changes. If we make a compelling recommendation, there may be room in the budget, within reason, to pay for it.

Space

Our art room is now a classroom because of our high enrollment. PTA bought art tables and chairs, which we still have. If things go the way they've been going, we'll be even tighter on space. Are mobile units an option? Our music area is the stage in the cafeteria, which can be enclosed.

What is the cost of not moving on this?

  • This is one area where we don't live up to our standard of blue ribbon excellence. The cost would be a continued below-standard arts program.
  • A missed opportunity for all of our kids to have a positive experience with the arts.
  • We lose the opportunity for a richer school experience for our children, also for teachers and parents.
  • We lose an opportunity for building school culture through the arts.

What is the definition of success?

  • A program that engages all children, not just the artistically talented, in the joy of artistic expression.
  • A program that meets the kids where they are, teaching them in a manner appropriate to their age and teaching skills at the developmentally appropriate time.

What would the benefits be if we got there?

  • community building
  • kids begin a lifelong engagement in the arts
  • enhancement for academics
  • richer school experience for kids

Decision Rights

We'll come to a decision on our recommendation by consensus, or, if no consensus, majority vote.

Stakeholders - who are they? How do we need to engage each of them as we progress?

  • students
  • Mr. Landeryou
  • teachers at Key
  • Fillmore: Ms. Latterner and teachers
  • Parents
  • PTA
  • Parents who want to provide programming
  • Others?

Pathway to our Goal

  1. Articulate our vision
    Steps: research other programs, i.e. Lafayette, Mann
    School visits? Visits to Fillmore?
    What reading do we need to do on arts education?
  2. Problems: what will get in the way of this vision
  3. Solutions

Tentative Timeline

Meeting 1 - Introduce Overall Plan and get Feedback
Before next meeting: research other programs, visits if possible Meeting 2 - Vision. Hear reports, exercise to begin articulating a vision Before meeting 3: finish research
Meeting 3 - Vision. Hear reports, finish group work to articulate vision
Before meeting 4: interface with stakeholders to figure out some of the potential problems
Meeting 4 - What are the problems
Meeting 5 - Solutions
Meeting 6 - Recommendation

Proposed meeting dates:

Thurs., Oct. 29
Thurs., Nov. 12
Thurs., Dec. 3
Thurs., Dec. 17
Thurs., Jan. 14