When the Levy Breaks: East Instrumental Arts Post Budget Cuts

Fearing the oncoming slew of budget cuts and lost positions, there was a bitter note to last year’s Spring semester. The drying of funding from the pandemic, coupled with lower enrollment numbers brought the need from Denver Public Schools’ leadership to lower spending for this school year. Schools district-wide were affected by these cuts. East in particular had a notable surge of conversation regarding cuts to their art programs. 

Keith Oxman, legendary band teacher and jazz musician, retired at last year’s end, leaving the position open for East’s second band instructor. It came as a surprise to many however when no second teacher was hired, and the position was cut instead. Many of the classes offered last year were cut to accommodate, from ten to six, left with a single music teacher, one Tung Pham. 

“I’m teaching an overload,” Mr. Pham mentioned. Across East, there’s a variety of bands and skill levels that require vastly different instruction. “The ability to be able to serve all the students across the whole spectrum is super difficult” “I'm just trying to do too many things at once and I appreciate the kids for being patient with me of that, because I know I'm being spread in a lot of different directions, but they seem to be really supportive”. Though Mr. Pham mentioned he would personally like to see a second music teacher, especially for classes outside of his specialties such as orchestra; he mentions that enrollment isn’t where it needs to be to support such a decision. 

Many students and teachers were shocked and deeply upset to see programs cut and budgets slashed, especially considering DPS received an $11 million dollar mill levy in 2012 specifically for programs like the arts and music. All of this comes at a time of great contention within DPS, as teachers are also arguing for higher wages as costs of living have increased dramatically in Denver. An agreement between the school district and teacher’s union slated a 5.25% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for educators. The total they actually received was only 2.06%. In contrast to all of this is superintendent Alex Marrero, who recently received a 10% raise (Denver Gazette). 

Madeleine Senger, an East High school senior, pianist, and writer for the Greater Park Hill News has been an ardent proponent for increased funding to East arts. The 2012 mill levy is an important part of her argument. According to the levy, DPS Schools should have 0.5 instrumental music teachers for every 400 students. Based on this, East’s 2,500 students would be granted closer to three teachers rather than just one.  “They didn’t respect that.” “There are so many opportunities that [...] students won’t get because there isn’t enough space for them”. Senger has attempted to reach out to the board, but was told that “there’s nothing they can do”.

While squabbles for funding occur on the district-level, it’s the students who are left to deal with the results. Senior Beckett Nelson-Gardner thinks that “it’s a downhill slope [...] East used to be [...] one of the best schools in DPS for music and now it's looking like the only place you can get a good music education is a place that is specifically dedicated to the arts, like DSA…”. Senior Gabrielle Muturi fears that “the East music program is gonna get a lot smaller”. Across the board, students from a range of band classes have noticed a sharp change in focus since last year. Beckett talked about “a new emphasis on music theory” and less on actual playing, while Gabrielle mentioned a monotonous lack of diversity in the song selection.

There’s varying feelings on the How instrumental music at East as well as art programs across DPS at large will look moving forward is still largely uncertain. Change feels like a requirement to many, stating the instability of the establishment. Despite discontentment, the community remains tight-knit, and is hopeful for the future of East’s art program.