A call to action: school arts funding—you can help!

Dear Editor:

May 10th is a big day! After a long effort, there’s some good news: Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Ziegler’s current budget proposal finally acknowledges the need to invest $3.6 million into the arts to provide adequate staffing for safety and to achieve equity with athletic staffing. 

BUT – he only wants to provide $1.2 million this year and roll out additional funding over the subsequent two budget cycles. We can’t be sure that this will be a priority next year, that he will be Superintendent, or that we will have support from the School Board in the future. 

Loudoun students need your support now. Superintendent Ziegler also has recommended an investment of an additional $2.45 million for athletics for equipment, referees, uniforms, and publicity. While athletic programs deserve this money, arts students also deserve investment. 

For example, athletic programs already receive over $14.9 million in coaching stipends with two athletic directors, an athletic custodian, and an athletic secretary at every high school. At the same time, arts instructors are working at events at their schools for FREE—because no one is responsible for operating and maintaining the auditorium. LCPS cannot attract and retain talented arts instructors this way, and this budget request only furthers the divide between athletics and the arts.

PLEASE CONSIDER SENDING AN EMAIL TO YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REPS!

Ask them to fully fund the arts stipends, not roll out funding over 3 years. This is an immediate need. Staffing is needed to ensure our children’s safety and to support them in their extracurricular activities. Our elected representatives need to hear from you. Send them emails now, so they will arrive ahead of the May 10th meeting.

Denise.Corbo@lcps.orgTom.Marshall@lcps.orgAndrew. Hoyler@lcps.orgIan.Serotkin@lcps.orgBrenda.Sheridan@lcps.orgHarris.Mahedavi@lcps.orgJeff.Morse@lcps.orgAtoosa.Reaser@lcps.orgJohn.Beatty@lcps.org

Anthony Cimino 

Leesburg