Below is a letter we will be presenting to the school board. We need your permission to add your name as a local parent that cares about the return of instrumental music for our children. We know money is tight which is why we are beginning with a parent volunteer program. We need to show that there is community support for this program.

We will be sending copies of the replys to: Bronwyn Rhoades, Catherine Stone, Jessica Grinberg, Michael Schaeffer, Tom Hudson, Charlie Acker, Kim Bratton

Thank you so much

Attention School Board of Mendocino

At a previous board meeting we let you know as parents of our intention to have instrumental music return to our schools in Mendocino. Although we understand why we cannot have a full time instrumental teacher at this time, we believe it is important to provide as much support as possible for instrumental instruction for our children now. We see the return of instrumental music occurring in stages with the continued support of our community and administrators. Until the time occurs that permits the full time hiring of an instrumental teacher, we can keep this program alive and expose our children to this very important part of their education.

We see this as a process that begins with parent volunteers, working under the current credentialed music teacher, moving to a paid aide (also working under the current teacher) to be supported by community fund raising. When contractual matters permit, we expect MUSE to step in and support instrumental music just as they have nurtured other programs such as chorus and art. These programs eventually become a part of district funded education and it is with the support of the community organizations like MUSE that they have a chance to root and take hold.

The current fifth grade class has 18 students who are taught once a week by a parent volunteer working under Kim Bratton. Several of the students have already expressed concern about being able to carry on with in-school instruction in the following grades. We need your support now so this program does not go away. We are asking that at a bare minimum, instrumental music continue to be made available as an elective with a parent volunteer working under the direction of Kim Bratton for the grades 6 to 8 and continue to be introduced to next year's 5th grade class. We know money is tight and that's why we are urging you to start with volunteers. If we fail to act now, there will be a gap of years where students will have gone without ever having the opportunity for this education.

Immediate needs for Instrumental Music:

A consistent practice room with storage for the instruments (preferably the room originally intended for band)

Inclusion as a sub program with all elective offerings under the current music teacher (Kim Bratton) for grades 5 to 8 for next year

The ability to steer new fund raising towards an instrumental program.

Signed