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Foothills parents ask for strong performing arts programs

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Public Notices

Public Notices

Je co Superintendent Dorland hosts town hall

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Parents of foothills high schoolers told the Je erson County Public Schools superintendent that it was imperative that the high schools keep their performing arts programs. ey said those programs help with their students’ mental health and provide them with a place to belong. ey said it appeared the school district continues to nd funding for high school sports programs at the expense of other programs including performing arts.

About 75 parents attended a town hall meeting on April 10 at Evergreen High School with Superintendent Tracy Dorland. Dorland also talked about mental health support for students and sta and the change in start times for students beginning in fall 2023.

Dorland asked parents to contact Wes Paxton, the area’s community superintendent and former principal at Conifer High School, with additional concerns and ideas about performing arts.

Performing arts programs

Dorland said parents didn’t have to convince school leaders about the importance of performing arts and visual arts. Middle and high schools should not have to choose between instrumental and vocal music, for example, but lower enrollment numbers are forcing di cult decisions.

Districtwide, schools are losing enrollment: is year, Dorland said, about 6,200 students will graduate from Je co high schools while kindergartners districtwide number about 4,000.

At Evergreen High School, enrollment was at 1,123 in the 2019-20 school year. is year, it’s at 951 students, and next year’s enrollment

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