Dear Editor,
Last night I enjoyed my last spring concert as a parent at AES. It was bittersweet for me to watch my youngest daughter, a 5th grader who’s greatest joy in life is to sing, perform on the stage with her peers and two excellent teachers, knowing this would be the last time. She has been anticipating this concert for months, with great excitement. As usual, Ryan Cirbus’s special arrangements made the entire audience feel embraced and part of the AES family. Both my older daughter and I attended AES, and our experiences and memories are just as rich and rewarding. We will miss those performances.
As I stood in appreciation and joined the crowd in congratulating Patricia Bliznik, a talented music teacher retiring this year after teaching 37 years in our district, I was reflecting on just how thankful and blessed I am to have spent virtually my entire life in the OA district. I grew up in Owego, my father, Tim Swindell, just retired after 37 years of service as a history teacher, and I currently am serving my 12th year as a Digital Arts teacher at OFA. When my older daughter was ready to start school, my family chose to move to Owego from Endicott because it was the only school district I wanted my girls to go to.
In my fortunate position as parent and teacher in the OA district, I feel qualified to say that our district is exceptional. We have a tremendously hardworking, qualified and generous staff. We have great facilities and the supplies we need. We have vision, courage and common goals.
As an art teacher, over the years I have received unwavering support from my administration to build a fantastic, cutting edge technical program. It helps prepare students for skills in digital and graphic arts and digital photography. Skills they will use in college, careers and life in general. I work with over 100 students a year. Our Fine Arts department as a whole consistently sends students on to study Fine Arts in college, with many reporting back that they feel more prepared than their classmates from other schools.
Our Music department is award winning and amazing. Have you tried to get a seat on the night of the Prism Concert? I have been taking my girls to see the musical since the production of Grease about six or seven years ago. This year, as an 8th grader, my daughter was a cast member for the first time, and it is not an exaggeration to say that the camaraderie and mentoring from the older students and directors impacted her in a way she will always remember and cherish. I couldn’t begin to name all the students who go on to study music education, sound technology and other music related fields every year.
My colleagues and I in the Fine and Performing Arts departments hold our students to high standards, and because of that, they rise to and often exceed our expectations. Research supports that learning in music, art and theater correlates with higher achievement in core subjects. Nine of the last 10 valedictorians from OFA’s graduating class have participated in the music, art or theater programs. Arts Education also promotes creativity, social development and self-worth.
These are the critical attributes we as a school and community should be promoting – preparing our children to become citizens and thinkers.
When you vote on our school budget, I ask you to remember not only the fact that our district has responsibly managed resources to maintain programming and provide excellent Arts Education and opportunities for our children through the last tough years, but that a failure to pass a budget would most certainly negatively impact the Fine and Performing Arts program. There is no room to be more ‘lean’ without our children paying the price, and I don’t mean buying art supplies or renting instruments, because that is already happening.
The greatest gifts in life happen on the stage at Apalachin Elementary School, or while the Color Guard is practicing after school, or after the 44th consecutive night of the musical rehearsal. It happens when a senior has her own show hung in a gallery on Front Street. The benefits of Fine and Performing Arts Education are too great, too critical, for our students, children and future. Please vote YES on our school budget.
Sincerely,
Melanie Murphy
Owego, N.Y.
