Late funding for art supplies sparks criticism over long-term planning in Maury district

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Luis Jimenez Moreno is working on an art class project at Riverside Elementary School in Columbia, Tenn., On Tuesday, November 2, 2021.

Maury County Public School Board members stressed the need for the school district to ensure that all of its classrooms are fully equipped for its students.

During the council’s working session in December, it considered a budget amendment of $ 48,000 to fund art supplies in county schools.

The additional funds, taken from the district’s balance of funds, more than $ 2 million in savings, will provide art classes in the district with supplies for the current school year.

“We need to find a way to keep track of them every year,” said David Moore, who represents District 5 on the board. “This tip reiterated that when we start the new year no child grows up and says I don’t have a textbook. I don’t want them to show up and not have the materials they need for the classroom. I think this is something that needs to be budgeted for.

The comments reflected a similar decision made last month when Moore and other board members expressed concern about the planning and acquisition of new textbooks by the school district.

More: Science Texts in Limbo at Maury County Schools

“Why aren’t we budgeting for this? Asked Chad Howell, who represents District 9 on the board. “I want to know if we are fully funding this or if we are spending money on it. We have to look at everything holistically.

As Maury County schools are closed for the summer, a group of students couldn’t stay away from the classroom and returned to the Mt. Pleasant Middle School for the Visual and Performing Arts. for his Summer STEAM Academy, studying algebra and practicing mathematics in a problem-based environment. These students joined by Pincipal Kevin Eady are: Rebecka Roddy, 12, Josi McAlister, 13, Kylie Brewer, 13, Camryn Brewer 9, Maylee Fisher, 13, Jenna Fisher, 13, Jenna Renfro, 12, Zareena Jones, 10, Lillian Dodge 10, Hannah Hampton, 10, Jo Blan, 9, Victoria Stough, 10, Harrsion Stough, 13, Ross Kenney, 12, Case Pride, 13 and Shaun Gaddes, 10 year.

Students enrolled in MCPS have the choice of pursuing either music or the visual arts.

The Mt. Pleasant Middle School of Visual and Performing Arts serves as a campus dedicated to exposing students to the arts under the pretext that the arts also teach students important skills such as critical thinking and teamwork.

More: MCPS: The Kids on Stage Program To See Revisions

The campus is supported by additional funding provided by the Maury County Kids on Stage Foundation. The program, with an annual budget of over $ 200,000, supports the school district campuses in Mt. Pleasant.

With estimated funding of $ 4 million since 1991, the college campus continues to be supported by the organization that provides the necessary instruments, music, and supplies to keep the school’s students actively engaged in the artistic education.

The story continues

The district has approximately 13,000 students taught by a staff of 900 certified teachers and assisted by 500 staff.

Contact Mike Christen at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram at @michaelmarco. Please consider supporting his work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Art Supplies Sparks Discussion on Long-Range Planning at MCPS

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