By Jeff Hudson
Enterprise staff writer
The Davis Enterprise

Students, parents and teachers lined up at Thursday's school board meeting to defend music, science and school librarians from threatened budget cuts.

The standing-room-only crowd — spilling into the lobby and outside courtyard at the Community Chambers at City Hall — sat quietly through two hours of discussion by the trustees and district employees.

Then, audience members released a 90-minute outpouring of often emotional comment, urging the trustees to retain elementary band and string classes, science teachers, and elementary and junior high librarians.

At the same time, Superintendent James Hammond warned the board that the state budget crisis is real, and he outlined a baleful scenario if quick action is not taken. The district must notify teachers and librarians of possible layoffs by March 15. If trustees don't firm up plans to trim $4 million from the district's budget, the Yolo County Office of Education could take control of the district's finances — and "make the decisions about what programs to cut," he said.

As one possible drastic measure, Hammond asked trustees to explore reconfiguring the district's secondary school programs — moving ninth-graders from the junior high schools to the high school level, and then "consolidating" the middle schools. This almost certainly would mean closing a junior high.

The school board indicated it was interested in seeing information relating to such a reconfiguration, among other alternatives — though board president Sheila Allen promptly warned that if the district tries to shoot for such a secondary reconfiguration this fall, the result would be "beyond chaos."

The greatest number of speakers at the meeting came to talk about music programs. Parent Susan Hulsizer made a point that was raised by many others, describing elementary music as "the foundation" that makes successful junior high and high school music programs possible.

Parent John Horn also hit on that point, asking, "Would you build your house without a foundation? If you cut elementary music, you're going to lose the entire foundation of music in Davis." Horn said he started playing an instrument as a second-grader, and added that "I met my wife in band. ... Our three kids all play instruments."

Peter Matlock, a band parent, brought a large trophy won by the Davis High Jazz Band at a recent event. "Without elementary music, all of this will crumble," he said.

Davis High student Michael Mosca, a tuba player, warned that "without music, (students') grades will plummet, and SAT scores would go down. What music teaches you is essential skills to have a better chance in the world."

Parent Philip Mosca, Michael's father, said, "If you rip out the elementary music program, the higher programs will fall into decay. I've seen this at my high school in San Mateo, their program has fallen off immensely." Mosca urged people to "talk to your state legislator" about state cuts in funding for public schools, and "tell them what you think needs to change."

Addie Fyhrie, a Davis High sophomore, spoke of her 11-year-old brother Matthew, who's a sixth-grader. "He plays viola, like I do. ... He's a huge science nerd, but he likes orchestra even more."

Evan Provost, a Davis High sophomore who sings with the Madrigals, described his experience playing violin and saxophone at elementary school. "Music is such an important aspect for young people. ... I urge you, don't cut music."

Several students, including Jenny Silva of Holmes Junior High, turned in petitions defending music programs, which had been signed by 100 to 650 people.

Pioneer Elementary librarian Nora Brazil said, "These (proposed) cuts represent the elimination of the most fundamental programs that set this district apart. ... We need to practice creative problem-solving. Let's fix this list."

Several speakers also praised elementary science programs, and urged that they be sustained.

Assistant Superintendent Kevin French outlined the layoff procedure that the district will be following — a complex system that ranks employees according to length of service and other factors. French indicated that as a result, roughly twice as many teachers will be notified of possible layoffs, as compared to the number who actually will be laid off.

As Allen observed, "We don't know what the state budget is (going to be in the fall), we don't know how many students we're going to have, we have to hand out pink slips, so we are covered."

"That's correct," French said.

Associate Superintendent Bruce Colby said he thinks the state budget may not be finalized until after the 2008-09 school year begins Aug. 27.

Trustee Richard Harris, who works as a lobbyist in the state Capitol, said he believes "things are going to get worse at the state" over the summer. "We need flexibility," Harris said, urging that the district consider sending notification of possible layoffs to all teachers. French, however, warned that this could lead to litigation against the school district.

"But we do have to prepare for the worst-case scenario," French added. "We do not want to put ourselves in a box."

The school board is planning a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, March 3, to discuss the budget. It will be in the East Conference Room at the district's administrative offices, 526 B St. Vote on notification of possible layoffs could come at the regular school board meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Community Chambers at Davis City Hall, 23 Russell Blvd.