Parents urge board to restore full-time instrumental music funding at Olmstead 64

A parent from Olmstead School 64 told the Buffalo Board of Education on June 18 that budget planning that reduces the school’s instrumental music teacher from full time to a 0.67 position would cut two days of weekly instruction and harm a program that serves hundreds of students.

Sarah Muldoon, parent of a third grader, described the music program as a “true gem” and urged the board to find funding to retain the full-time instrumental position. Muldoon said the reduction would eliminate many current ensemble and after-school activities and cited recent competitive success: the school’s fourth-grade orchestra earned gold with distinction at the NISMA Majors Competition, and at a recent NISMA Solo Festival 15 of 16 participants earned the highest rating.

Muldoon provided participation numbers: 215 students participated in choral ensembles this year; 108 third- and fourth-grade students participated in the instrumental program this year out of approximately 220 third- and fourth-grade students; current orchestra enrollment for the next year was reported as 119 and still growing. She said more than 80 parents and 100 students signed a letter opposing cuts and asked the board to restore funding so the program can continue to operate as a full-time offering.

Board members acknowledged the public comment and said they would record the request for consideration during budget and staffing decisions; no immediate board vote on the music position occurred during the meeting.