Many community members, including the orchestra teacher, attended Monday's Cloquet School Board meeting to express further support for saving the orchestra program, although board members voted to cut it last week.
"Over the last several board meetings we've heard from the community as we make difficult budget decisions," Cloquet Superintendent Ken Scarbrough said.
Orchestra was just one of many cuts which totaled over $452,000.
The orchestra program, which costs approximately $22,000 a year in what amounts to just over a part-time teacher's salary, was spared from the chopping block last year after consideration.
Mary Osterlund, who teaches orchestra at Cloquet High School, expressed her frustration with the decision.
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"Last year you asked me to raise the numbers [of participating students in orchestra]," she said. "The numbers were raised across the board from sixth to 12th grade, by 22 percent overall. If I can stay and become more known in the community I can raise them even more."
Scarbrough quickly praised Osterlund, and said she had done "an outstanding job." The quality of her teaching had nothing to do with the board's decision, he added.
After several others spoke about the benefits and importance of the orchestra program, Scarbrough ended the orchestra commentary period.
"We're not turning a deaf ear," he said. "We're not justifying the orchestra cut - it's a horrific cut; we're just looking to squeeze money wherever we can."
The possibility still exists, if the board chooses, to reinstate the orchestra program if funding falls into place, Scarbrough explained.
He also recommended that the board wait to revisit the budget cuts until finding out how much funding comes through from the Minnesota legislature.
"We're not sure $452,000 is enough of a reduction," he added.
Board member Sandy Crowley expressed regret for voting to cut orchestra.
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"I feel that it was a mistake [to cut orchestra] and have been hearing from parents now after the fact. I feel I should have taken some leadership on that and I didn't," she said during the working session before the meeting.
In other business, the board unanimously denied adding a clerical position that Scarbrough had requested in March to offset state demands regarding special education data. Scarbrough said he would come back to a future meeting with other options for getting the work done.
In the building and grounds report, director Gene Salmi told board members that he is taking on a program to facilitate putting surveillance cameras in school buildings. Salmi promised to gather estimates for building security that would also include a key card access and interlocking system in the case of an emergency.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for May 14.
Pine Journal Editor Lisa Baumann can be contacted at: lbaumann@pinejournal.com .
