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Rock Enroll-Education
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Fort Schools - Top 100 in Music! |
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By: Dr. James Fitzpatrick, Superintendent,
School District of Fort Atkinson
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music”
Aldous Huxley
We received word from the American Music Conference (AMC) that our district has been recognized as one of the “Best 100 Communities” for Music Education in the United States!
We are thrilled to be included on this list. It validates the support this community has for music education. It is also testament to the outstanding music instruction that students have received in this school district throughout the years. We congratulate Tom Cook, our K-12 Music Department Chair and our entire music staff for their excellence in teaching. They are indeed “inspiring educators” who bring out the best in our students. In band, orchestra, and choral music our current students have become a part of a great tradition in Fort Atkinson, where music and the arts are valued.
Deeply in our debt are all the outstanding music teachers from the past who along with our present music teachers began, nurtured, or built up our band, orchestra, and choral music programs over the years.
Another group of people that is richly deserving of recognition are our parent booster clubs that have been so dedicated and generous in their volunteer efforts and fiscal support. Legions of music boosters have helped us sponsor huge festivals, chaperon trips, organize fundraisers, worked concerts, you name it! In advancing the cause of providing our kids with experiences they will cherish for the remainder of their lives.
Fort Atkinson Booster clubs, including music, athletics, FFA, and our Academic Booster Club has no peers. Indeed we are blessed with great parent and community support!
On March 31, 2009, the Daily Union printed a letter from Lesley Baird, a graduate from the class of 2001. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate Degree in clinical psychology at the University of Denver. Lesley, while being remembered as one of our finest scholar athletes ever, was also an outstanding editor for the student newspaper. In her letter she commented on the value of her experiences in the Fort Schools. While she recognized the core courses as being an integral part of her learning experience, she also emphasized how elective courses and co-curricular activities enriched her educational experience. For those of us who have been crusading for a halt in the “erosion” of programs and services provided to kids in Wisconsin schools, her reflective comments were indeed reassuring in validating the excellent programs we have offered in Fort Atkinson.
Every loving parent wants programs and services that best meet the needs of their child. Sometimes people will try to define what is “needed versus what is wanted.” This writer has certainly struggled over the years making difficult recommendations that balance programs and services with our ability to afford such.
You will hear some people refer to the “fat” in a school budget. In this last referendum I understood perfectly that we, the school district, certainly needed to “share in the pain” of balancing future budgets. That is very clear! After cutting almost $700,000- in spending since 2003 and another $150,000 proposed for 2006-07, and $100,000 for the year following, I think we have demonstrated that we can and do make tough fiscal decisions. But what is “fat?” I would submit that varies in the eyes of many people.
You will meet some people who will share with you very emphatically what they view as excessive. In addition to nailing administration, always a popular target, they will also tell you how we do not need programs like the music we offer, or sports, clubs, and services. They do not see the importance of such offerings that Miss Baird in her March letter so thankfully acknowledged. Without those experiences where would she and others be?
In closing, I want to end this column as I began in expressing my heartfelt thanks to the citizens of Fort Atkinson for recognizing the importance of “finer education” and its place here in Fort Atkinson. Our mission is to continually improve in providing programs and opportunities for our students to realize their academic and personal potential.
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