2025 Music Meeting Talking Points

A multitude of systematic changes have and will continue to negatively impact our students, their educational opportunities and the Duluth community at large. 

I. Teacher Cuts and Schedule Changes Resulting in Negative Impacts

A.  Duluth East and Denfeld daily schedule in Fall 2025

1. No “WIN” creates negative impacts to students and community

a. Marching Band field show - Homecoming 

b. Holiday Concert rehearsals

c. Sectionals

d. Inter-Ensemble pieces (combined performances)

e. Solo & Ensemble entries

f. No chamber music opportunities 

2.  High School 7 period day = 5 min less instructional time

3.  PAWs Days (extra 9 days of non-student instruction)

4.  Extra PD days (additional 4 days from prior years of non-student instruction)

5.  Performance based classes scheduled at the end of the day

a.  Impact: missing athletes at the end of the day

This is not the same as missing a math class/history class.  Our progress relies on every musician being together, engaging in the creative process as an ensemble.

6.  New required courses per grade level restrict opportunities for students

A.  State mandated vs. District specific

B. Referendum promise was “more opportunity and choice” 

C. Cross-curricular aspect of this (World Languages)

II.  Major Impacts

A.   Insufficient enrichment and intervention time  

1. Considerably less student/teacher interaction and mentorship

2. Combining/collaborating with multiple ensembles is extremely challenging and creates a heavy burden for students to transport and arrange their schedules to accommodate rehearsals. 

3.  Student have shrinking opportunity for taking the electives they want (e.g. language and music)

III.  Desired Outcomes

A.   Three Points:

1. Provide a “Zero Hour” class for the chamber musics (as in the recent past)
2. Bring back the “WIN” opportunities for students
3. Communicate the disruptive nature of the current “system”

IV.  Actionable Items

A.   Contact school board representatives and administration

SchoolBoard@isd709.org (Duluth Public Schools School Board)

Kelly.Flohaug@isd709.org (Duluth East Principal)

John.Magas@isd709.org (ISD709 Superintendent)

Anthony.Bonds@isd709.org (ISD709 Assistant Superintendent)

B.   Register to speak at upcoming school board meetings

1. 1. Tuesday, November 18 at 5:30pm 

a. Complete this form before noon on November 17  if you would like to speak during the “listening session” (begins at 5:30pm)

b. Here are the listening session guidelines.

c. Recommended solution: bring back zero hour for the chamber ensembles

V.  WHY Music Matters! Talking Points Worth Addressing

A. Importance of music lessons:

a. Colburn

b. 7 benefits of private lessons

c. Scientific American: Brain development 

d. Music is Social/Emotional/Learning in action! (NAfME: SEL Pamphlet)

B. Families enroll their children in our schools for our music programs. Frequent transfers from in-district private schools to be part of our programs. 

C. Music encourages and motivates students to stay in school.

D. Formative assessment is in action 100% of the time.

E. Our curriculum is tiered to the level of learning that is appropriate for the student’s abilities (e.g. not every student is playing the 1st trumpet part). 

F. The music programs have many extremely talented students, and an equally high number of fantastic students who love to be a part of this unique learning environment that we call a family. This is the pinnacle of social and emotional learning. 

G. EVERY STUDENT MATTERS!  EVERY student plays - nobody is benched.