LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The March 26 Board of Education meeting became a hub for protests against proposed cuts to elementary school specials. Over 200 people attended the meeting, cramming into the hallway and sitting on the floor. Many wore red, emblematic of “red for ed,” and displayed “Fight for Music Education” stickers, which a teacher made the morning of the meeting.
The proposed changes aim to transition from a 10-day rotation cycle to a four-day rotation. Attendees said the new schedule would mean less physical education and music instruction and less time for department events. The plan would also limit students to one music ensemble, rather than two as they currently can participate in.
Teachers and parents fear the impact on music, arts, media and P.E. programs will be detrimental. “This is such a massive change to how we do things countywide, and will have an enormous impact on our music programs,” said Bethany Alvey, a music, strings and chorus teacher at Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School.
The meeting underscored broader budgetary issues. The school system is $7.9 million short of its requested funding. Additionally, the state has reduced its contribution by $2.2 million. Compounding these issues, the county commissioners plan to flat-fund the school system, providing the same level of funding for 2026 as in 2025, despite rising costs in salaries and utilities. This flat funding decision follows an income tax increase from 3% to 3.2%, which began in January and was initially intended to support education. As a result, the school system now receives only 39.8% of overall county revenue, marking a historical low, and ranks 20th out of 24 in per-pupil funding across Maryland.
“We are being picked apart at the federal level, at the state level and at the local level. I beg you, please give us grace and patience, so we don’t pick ourselves apart from within,” said Superintendent Scott Smith. “This is the first year that basically we’ve been told, ‘Well, the state’s turned its back on you, we’re going to turn our backs on you too.’”
Board members emphasized lacking scores in the schools and said in a presentation that the plan would provide a “unique opportunity to be exposed to options provided in music education while minimizing disruptions to their academic learning.” Students are currently pulled from core instruction two to four times per week for ensembles.
However, attendees highlighted studies that show pullout music instruction results in no statistically negative effects on academic achievement.
“Here’s the data, pullout music instruction is not the problem,” said Nathan Earley, Green Holly Elementary band teacher. He created the “Fight for Music Education” stickers on the morning of the meeting and designed a shirt the night before, featuring the same slogan on the front and “I’m not just someone else’s planning period” on the back.
Hannah Heisler, student board member, tearfully said she has been the first in her class for three years, although she has missed about 30 days of school for chamber choir.
Jennifer Drake, an Oakville Elementary music, band and chorus teacher, highlighted the logistical challenges, noting, “We have to teach that general music content, along with the ensemble skills, in half the time.” The timing of the announcement has also been a point of contention. “We were informed on March 7, with no prior consultation or chance to contribute to the decision-making process,” Alvey explained.
Community members, including students, shared how music has enlivened their hearts and minds during the public comment period. Deborah Hines, an Evergreen Elementary School kindergarten paraeducator, said her third-grade son has always struggled with reading and attends weekly small group interventions to improve his skills. He now plays cello.
“His confidence has skyrocketed and his enthusiasm, especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays when he has strings, has also increased,” Hines said. “Music has strengthened his literacy and ability to read on grade level.”
Andrea Windsor, a Charles County elementary school teacher, said the new program would be similar to her county’s, and she laments seeing her students every other week. She said music saves lives.
“Some of the kids that I work with at my school have had more trauma in their little lives — and I work with pre-K to five — than I will ever have in my entire lifetime, and seeing those kids come to me with the biggest smiles in the world and saying, ‘Oh, do we have to?’ when it’s time to leave shows me that I’m making a difference,” Windsor said.
In response to the community’s outcry, Smith has formed a special committee to address the scheduling issue, including representative teachers from each of the specials.
“This is 100% what we were asking for,” Alvey said, expressing optimism about the committee’s potential to find a solution. She said she and others plan to rally at the upcoming county commissioners’ budget hearing on April 22 to advocate for necessary funding.
Cathy Allen, vice chairman, in a crescendo, called for community support. She pleaded with attendees to make their voices heard in letters, emails or at the meeting, in a strangled, emotional voice.
“You’ve asked something of us, I’m going to ask something of you,” she said. “We really need your help in making the case to our commissioners that this isn’t just important to fund the school system, it is critical to our future. It is critical to the success of this community. That’s, I think, why we pay taxes. They need to remember that.”
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It’s called the trickle down effect. When federal dollars disappear, something has to go. Isn’t this what you voted for?
Yeah but the eggs
Very informative; love this story!