RICHLAND, Wash. – Members of the community are rallying for music as the Richland School District works to balance its budget for the current school year. The district is aligning its budget and staffing decisions with projected student enrollment.
“We are currently reviewing our staffing model to ensure it reflects both enrollment trends and student needs,” the district stated. Staffing levels change based on student needs and enrollment.
One program catching attention is the jazz band, with community members voicing concern at a recent school board meeting.
They want more staff to reduce class size. “The music isn’t written to be played by a group that big,” said Toni O’Connor, a local music teacher and parent. “The curriculum isn’t written to be taught to a group that big, and the festivals and concerts that they attend can’t, cannot accommodate groups of that size.”
The importance of creating an environment where students can bond over music was highlighted by a community member, Andrew Kirk, who was nearly brought to tears, saying, “I’m choking up because when I was 13, my parents got divorced. We moved to Utah. My dad moved to Virginia, and my middle school band teacher and my high school band teacher were my father figures.”
The district acknowledges the desire for additional staff but cites budget challenges that have grown over the past five years. According to data from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, state spending on education has dropped from 52.4% of the state budget in 2019 to 43.1% of the 2024 state budget.
The rising cost of labor, supplies, and utilities is compounded by the state’s budget having less money for schools. Despite these challenges, the district says they are working to maintain a balance of providing high-quality education while staying fiscally responsible.
