Parents, students and others upset at the proposed cuts to the South Milwaukee school music program are making their voices heard on the issue.
Click here to see a WISN-TV story on the topic. From the story:
In South Milwaukee, the music has played as long as anybody can remember, but unless there is a dramatic change for the good in the district’s school budget in the next few weeks, the entire string orchestra could be cut. “I came from a broken family and the orchestra program saved my life, so I’m very strongly opposed to them cutting this program,” Music Alumni South Milwaukee member Carol Rehak said.
Parents, students and citizens are outraged at the mere thought of it. “I really don’t want them to cancel the music program, cause it’s pretty much everything to me,” student Travis Paget said.
Said Superintendent David Ewald: “We’ve tried not to gore anybody’s oxen, at this point, though, we can’t not do that. Things that we treasure are being eliminated and they will be eliminated because we have no choices except to do that.”
Be sure to check out Blogging Blue, a blog run by former South Milwaukee School Board candidate Zach Wisniewski, for more thoughts on the topic. And you can visit the South Milwaukee Music Portal, which has even more information, including links to join a Forward South Milwaukee Facebook page devoted to the issue.
Also check out my previous post for links to the key budget documents.
So, what do you think?
Learn more at the South Milwaukee School Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, when a public hearing on the preliminary budget recommendations is planned.
Here is the meeting agenda.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Thank you so much for covering this. This is so much more than just music. It is preserving our community. Those of us who love this great community need to protect how our children are educated, our property values, how safe our community is etc.
Let’s keep SM a great place to live!
Due to the broken funding system, and after a decade of trimming non-essentials, every single program is now being scrutinized.
People who do not have children in school anymore need to still pay attention to the schools. If things keep going without any kind of financial change, schools will be closing.
Property values always decline in an area with no schools. Whether you own property in South Milwaukee, Rhinelander, or Door County – your taxes will be affected by schools, and we WANT schools – it makes our properties attractive for the next generation and keeps our community strong and vibrant.
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