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Strong support on the Board of Education may save the music program from substantial cuts. 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence has recommended that the board, which must cut about $6 million to balance next year’s budget, layoff music program coordinator Suzanne McCulloch, assign her duties to one or more elementary school principals and reduce the number of full-time teaching positions from 11.5 to 9.1. 

But, board members say protecting teacher positions will be a top priority, and at least two have raised concerns about cutting the coordinator position, put in place this year. 

“I don’t think there’s any question that the program has benefited tremendously from the coordinator and there needs to be a person to do that work,” said Shirley Issel, president of the school board. “I hate to see a program that’s suffering from a lack of leadership.” 

“As competent as our principals are, they’re also overworked,” said board member John Selawsky. 

Selawsky argued that in the past administration of the program by principals has not worked. 

But board member Ted Schultz cautioned that budgetary realities will play a role in any final decision. 

“This is the first year we’ve had someone as a coordinator and it seems to be making an impact,” he said. “On the other hand, we’re in a budget pinch.” 

About half of the funding for the coordinator’s position comes from the Berkeley Schools Excellence Project, a special local tax, a quarter from state grants and a quarter from private grants. 

One of the private grants, a $10,000 award from the East Bay Community Foundation, will not be renewed next year. 

Chris Lim, associate superintendent of instruction, said McCulloch has done great work, but added that the financially-strapped district is concerned about picking up the $10,000 tab. But Issel said she is confident the district can find money to fill the hole. 

By all accounts, the music program had its share of problems before this year. There was no coherent district-wide curriculum, instruments were lost or went unrepaired, and there were constant scheduling problems, said teachers and parents. 

“The program has improved a lot with the coordinator,” said Rita Kimball, principal of Washington School. 

District music teachers say McCulloch, and her assistant Annette Lys, have done invaluable work by cataloguing instruments, organizing professional development and bringing instructors together. 

Karen Wells, a music teacher at the elementary and high school levels, praised McCulloch for helping to create a unified curriculum. 

“That would never of happened if Suzanne weren’t here,” Wells said. 

“This is the first year that many of us have been evaluated,” added Greg Gomez, who teaches woodwinds and brass at the fourth- and fifth-grade levels. 

“I’m a beginning teacher,” said Madeline Prager, another music instructor. “Suzanne has given me valuable tips.” 

Henry Viets, another music teacher, said McCulloch has been an effective advocate with school principals.  

“Approaching the principal as one music teacher, there an hour and a half a week, is not really effective,” he said. “(McCulloch) has made our lives so much better.” 

But music supporters say preservation of the coordinator position is not enough. Michael Kelley, co-chair of the Music Curriculum Committee, said the program cannot afford to lose 2.4 full-time teaching positions, as proposed by the superintendent.  

“We’re already operating at a bare bones minimum,” he said. 

“If we lose some teachers, we will be overwhelmed,” added Viets. “It will be horrendous.” 

Viets said the prospect of a smaller staff, and a growing workload, already had some teachers looking elsewhere. “Some of us are already preparing our resumes,” he said. 

Teachers also bemoaned the effect of layoffs on students, arguing that music helps to nurture creativity and build self-esteem. 

“You just can’t believe the feelings those kids have when they’re coming off the stage,” said Prager. 

Susan Medak, chair of the Berkeley Arts in Education Steering Committee, which advises the board, pointed to studies showing higher graduation rates, less absenteeism and greater parental involvement when students take part in music and the arts. 

Board members reached by the Planet said they value the music program and will try to preserve as many teachers as they can. Lawrence herself, at a school board meeting last week, signaled her support for music teachers.  

Jesse Anthony, a music teacher for 33 years, said he is confident of Lawrence’s support in the end. “She supports music,” he said. “She understands it.” 

Lawrence could not be reached for this story by deadline.