Medford has not cut Art Education despite severe budget constraints.
Further, the requirement of MCAS and NCLB have made it imperative that we schedule sufficient time in each of the core academic subjects.
There is no extra funding to expand the regular school day in a reasonable fashion at this time. However, we can expand after school arts education opportunities to students at a reasonable cost.
Our new schools have provided us with excellent facilities and equipment to encourage the arts. We employ a very good art/music faculty.
Here are some short-term ways to expand art/music opportunities in our schools:
- Increase the number of after school activities in the arts
- Bring in artists in residence to share their skills and experience with students
- Schedule some extra filled trips to performing arts presentations and/or to museums, etc.
- Collaborate with organizations like Springstep and the local arts council
- Sponsor a limited number of scholarships for specialized lesions to identified gifted artist
- Integrate artwork (interdisciplinary) into projects assigned by the core academic teachers
