In their continuous effort to draw more attention to the cause of arts education, supporters of Arts for MCS took part in the public comment period at the Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 11.
Last year, Arts for MCS organizers presented a three-year plan to the Macon County Board of Education. In year one, positions would be established for elementary school art and music teachers, middle school art and chorus teachers and a part-time countywide arts education coordinator. The annual cost for positions added in year one is estimated at $292,500. Two double-classroom modular units would be installed at East Franklin and Cartoogechaye elementary schools.
Year two would add more positions, make the coordinator full-time and start construction on a new fine arts center at Franklin High School, which would be completed in year three. Staffing costs in year two would add $195,000 annually. Supporters feel that this would go a long way towards giving students a meaningful arts curriculum that doesn’t end at the intermediate level.
“It has been 11 years with no art at Macon Middle School,” organizer Sara O’Neil said. “That is 2,035 instructional days and 14,245 instructional hours without art.”
Proponents of the arts have been vocal in support for more funding for arts education over the past year, and last week’s meeting was no exception. More than a dozen people spoke to the commissioners in favor of Arts for MCS. Some were teachers who have seen firsthand the positive influence that art can have on children’s engagement at school. Others were parents going to bat for their kids who are at risk of aging out of their favorite classes. Some were even former students who want to make sure that the next generation has the same opportunities they had.
“I would have never went to college if it wasn’t for music, specifically chorus” said Chloe Tallent, a recent graduate with a music education degree. “The only thing that I looked forward to was third period B Naturals in high school every single day… I know that there are so many other children like me.”
These conversations about arts education become more important the closer the county gets to budget season. The financial downfall of COVID-19 that was expected last year never really materialized, so this year could be a critical moment for funding arts education. However, it should be noted that the commissioners can only supply the school board with extra money for their budget – it will be up to the school board to decide whether it goes to arts education. Furthermore, the commissioners would like to see something done at the state level, where they feel education is supposed to be the most prioritized.
“The state cut it out of the budget,” Commissioner Ronnie Beale said. “I would definitely call [state Sen. Kevin Corbin and state Rep. Karl Gillespie] about every 10 minutes.”
However, the well-being of local students is still an important issue to the board, so the concerns brought up by Arts for MCS will be considered again during the 2021-22 budget process.
“For the most part, every single year that we’ve come up with spare dollars, we’ve given it to the school system,” board chairman Jim Tate said.
The Macon County Board of Commissioners will meet again on Tuesday, May 25 at 6 p.m. in the boardroom at the Macon County Courthouse.