AUBURN — Auburn parents and children alike argued against some of the elementary curriculum changes coming to the school district next year.
People spoke their minds during the public comments portion of a board of education meeting Tuesday night. Kindergarten through sixth-grades will rotate through art classes, music classes and library time every six school days, as opposed to the current four-day rotation. Physical education will be rotated through every other day.
Students Abigail Ringwood and Addison Lange made their way to the podium, with Abigail's mother Jen Ringwood in tow. Abigail, 10, barely came up to the podium, so district Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo lowered a laptop in front of her so the board could see her. Addison, 11, said she cried when she first heard about the rotation change. She argued those who created songs heard on the radio or pieces hanging in museums probably didn't have their arts or music programs cut as students.
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"Art and music helps us in so many ways in our lives," Addison said, reading from prepared remarks. "Pretty much everything has either art or music in it."
Addison's mother, Donna Lange, walked to the microphone at one point. Addison yelled "Go Mommy!" from her seat, which gathered laughs from the crowd. Donna cried at one point while addressing the board.
"Yes, other schools may (cut arts and music), but let's be the school that invests in the artists, the thinkers, the dreamers, the children that use outlets such as art and music," Donna said.
Laurel Ullyette, who also spoke about the rotation, said after the meeting she wants students to be exposed to different programs and ideas.
"Every kid needs to have time to do what brings them to life," Ullyette said.
After the meeting, Pirozzolo said the rotation change is due to incoming staffing cuts stemming from a $3.7 million deficit. He said the district doesn't want to limit students' access to anything. He said the district will be looking into ways students can gain art and music education despite the rotation.
Pirozzolo said the district will be adding a program in which librarians will go over keyboard work and digital literacy​.
In other news:
The district is also set to see major savings from new health insurance consultants. The district will make a deal with the ENV Insurance Agency this summer. Pirozzolo said after the meeting he believes the agency will help the district get into a new pharmacy program that could provide $1.8 million in cost savings for next year.
District business manager Lisa Green said after the meeting she wishes the district would have switched to ENV years ago.
Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.