Philadelphia School's Budget Crunch Puts Music Programs On Chopping Block
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Students and advocates for the arts pleaded with the School Reform Commission to spare arts and music programs from the budget ax.
With a $629 million dollar budget gap to close, Philadelphia school music programs could be endangered. Audenried sophomore Dyshanae Morris made her plea in song, with a rendition of Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come."
And she told the School Reform Commission about the importance of music.
"It gives students like me opportunities in life. But it also gives us a chance to show what we love to do and share it with the world."
Denise Kinney, executive director of the group Musicopia, also implored the SRC to keep music education.
"Music matters. It's not ancillary, it's not peripheral, it's not fluff."
The district holds a budget hearing April 27th. Final budget decision is required by the end of May.
Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio
