CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After originally announcing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools was cutting the chorus program at West Mecklenburg High chorus program, school officials announced they are keeping the class.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education unanimously passed the budget request Tuesday that calls for $40 million more than last year to fund improvements to school safety, higher teacher pay and more counselors.
The budget request still has to be signed off by county commissioners.
Channel 9 reported last month about CMS’s decision to cut the chorus program at West Meck.
Past coverage
Members of the West Mecklenburg High School Chorus group are shock after learning their program is being cut.
Students told Channel 9 they had just returned from a special performance at Lenoir-Rhyne University's choral festival when they heard the news.
"She got really sentimental, real emotional, and told us that the choral program is being taken away,” student Samir Brice-Greene said. "It was a room of sadness, Everybody was very upset. It's very difficult to lose something you love."
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School officials confirmed to Channel 9 that the program is being dropped.
"West Mecklenburg High values the arts and chorus and it has been an important part of West Mecklenburg's curriculum for students. Enrollment declines have meant tough choices have to be made at West Meck to retain core subjects such as language arts, math, science and other courses that are required for graduation. If enrollment shifts, West Meck looks forward to the possibility of offering chorus again."
CMS officials added: "The course is not being offered due to teacher allotment reduction, which has impacted a number of departments. The reduction is based on student enrollment projections and still allows the school to provide students with everything they need to support their path to graduation."
In the past, CMS Superintendent Clayton Wilcox has spoken of his commitment to the arts. This week, the board of education approved a new assistant superintendent for fine arts education.
"Music is much bigger than people give it credit for," said Shariff Greene, who is a school volunteer. "It's not just an elective, it's these kids' creative expression. It's a home away from home."
This petition to save the program already has more than 800 signatures.
"We all have to fight for what we love, and what we love is music,” Brice-Greene said.
Students plan to protest the ruling at the May 8 school board meeting and speak directly to the board of education.
According to district officials, West Meck is continuing to offer other courses within the fine arts department.
School officials said whenever classes are cut, they always look for ways students can express themselves through clubs when possible.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
