GREAT NEWS!
On February 23rd the IPS teachers were sent an e-mail that outlined the budget cuts for the 2010-2011 year. Included in these cuts were the art programs at the kindergarten and 1st grades. Indianapolis public School system was faced with $26 million in budget cuts.
Dr. White outlined his plan in a PowerPoint which included 15.7 art teachers would be cut. The AEAI teachers of IPS went into action. We attended the following budget meetings held on March 3, and March 24, armed with questions and support for our position. I spoke at the school board meeting; several art teachers e-mailed board members, and spoke at the public meetings.
The AEAI IPS art teachers have asked me to send a special thanks to the President of AEAI Brad Venable who wrote letters to each member of the school board in support of the art program, and AEAI Advocacy Chair, Clyde Gaw, who came and spoke at the public meeting held at Tech high School, advocating art programs at the primary levels.
We are thrilled to announce that through a well organized and consorted effort of AEAI to keep art programs at the kindergarten and 1st grades, Dr. White has decided that the art and music cuts in kindergarten and first grades are off the table. Art will be taught at the kindergarten and 1st grades.
In these tough economy times we need to remain diligent in our efforts towards art advocacy. Stay involved.
Sidney Allen
Elementary Art Teacher
Charity Dye Elementary School #27
District 5 AEAI Co- Rep.
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