Music Programs Safe at Easton Schools

Although it was unable to decide on whether to raise taxes Tuesday night, the Easton Area School Board did come to one decision:

Easton's elementary school music programs are off limits.

The board made this decision after hearing from parents and students speaking in favor of the elementary music program, which would have been cut had the board voted for a no-tax-increase budget.

The zero percent tax increase is still a possibility, as are budget scenarios that raise taxes by 1.7 and 2.1 percent, the option recommended by the school district administration.

School officials—who had planned to wake up Wednesday with a preliminary budget approved—will instead continue working on balancing the $134.8 million budget for 2013-2014.

But no matter what path the district takes, board members say music will stay.

That's likely good news to students like Amber Hess, whose voice broke as she talked about what her involvement in school music has meant.

"The music program is not something that should be taken away from us," Hess said. "It has given me a place where I can shine and I can be comfortable.”

Senior Nicholas Cunningham said music kept him from being a troublemaker.

“Band structured who I am today," he said, and argued music is just as much a part of Rover tradition as athletics. “Think about all the times the band’s been out on the field, motiviating the players, giving their all.”

Board members could not agree to a follow-up motion that would keep all school programs safe.

They also had trouble coming together on the different tax increase scenarios, which would eliminate between 13 and 40 jobs in the district, depending on how low the tax increase is.

Board members also voted to take $500,000 from the district's fund balance, half-a-million less than what the administration had recommended.

Last year the district cut 102 positions, of which 49 were teachers, to balance the budget.

Under the 2.1 percent tax increase, the owner of a property with an assesed value of $60,000 would pay $68 more each year in property taxes. With the 1.7 percent increase, the bill goes down to $56 more a year.

The board will take up the budget again May 14.

"It's going to be a heck of a meeting," said board member Robert Moskaitis.