USD 232 in De Soto is launching an orchestra program for both middle and high schools.
On Monday, the school board agreed to implement orchestra programs in both middle and high schools in the district. The vote was 5-0, with board members Danielle Heikes and Ashley Spaulding absent.
With the board’s approval, the program can start its first step in a six-step process, which will involve hiring a new teacher and starting a before or after-school class. The district intends to implement step 1 of the process as part of the budget planning for the 2025-26 school year.
A long-in-the works idea, the long-term plan would require five full-time teachers to support classes in the district’s three middle schools and two high schools. It would also need classroom space and storage for musical instruments.
The program will take time to implement
The first step, dubbed Step 0, involves creating a before or after-school program and hiring a teacher to meet with students who have their own instruments.
With the future hiring of a new teacher, the hopes are classes can begin in January 2025, said Adelyn Soellner, Chief of Academics at USD 232, who drafted the proposal.
Details are still being worked out, but Step 1 generally includes everything in Step 0, as well as:
- Finding a space at a USD 232 middle school to practice
- Having one full-time equivalent teacher to travel to that middle school for classes
- The school purchasing some instruments
- Developing a program for high school to perform at a middle school level
Forthcoming steps would build on previous ones until the school has the required number of teachers and spaces to practice at both the middle and high school levels. No timeline for the steps was mentioned.
“The reason the steps are Step Zero, Step One, Step Two, Step Three is we’d love that to be next year, the year after that, the year after, the year after,” Soellner said. “But we some of that we have to see.”
Plans have been in the works
When Soellner was hired earlier this year, one of the first issues she heard about was the need for orchestra classes, she said.
“When I got to the district, one of the very first things that was given to me is there’s a desire for orchestra, and that there’s work that’s been done,” she said.
Gathering information from educators, stakeholders, an orchestra task force and surveys, Soellner drafted a proposal to the board of education that she deemed reasonable, starting with Step 0.
“(The task force) is trying to just put together ‘What is a way that’s reasonable, that puts students in a good spot to have somebody who is certified, who is helping them grow their skills and also growing a program?'” she said.
Details about implementing the program remain “muddy,” including finding dedicated spaces, Soellner said. But she didn’t want that to stop the district from launching it.
People spoke in support of it
Having spoken to the board about the need for an orchestra in the school in the past, Jenny Long of Shawnee said she was encouraged in her talks with Soellner and the amount of work she put into the proposal.
“The proposal is well planned. It’s thoroughly considered. It outlines the future,” she said. “Most importantly, I feel like it outlines the future so the orchestra program won’t be bogged down in uncertainty again as it grows.”
Other schools, like Olathe North, have orchestra programs that put on concerts that bring the community together, Long said.
“Every year we’ve attended this amazing orchestra concert that brings in elementary, middle and high school students,” she said. “So they play together and it’s an amazing inspirational to see the kids enjoy it and enjoy each other, and it’s much like the Friday Night Lights. It just builds community.”
Also speaking in support of it, Kimberly Goff of Shawnee talked about past discussions to launch the orchestra program and the need for the proposal to move forward.
“My fifth grade daughter … She plays the violin. Nothing would make her happier than being able to participate in an orchestra at school and play with her friends,” she said.
The board was in support of it
Speaking to Soellner, board member Anh-Nguyet Nguyen said she was happy the proposal was being discussed.
“I love that we are finally moving forward with this,” she said.
Board member Calley Malloy also agreed and thanked the stakeholders for their help with the proposal.
“I know that this is a long time coming,” she said. “As a proponent for the arts, we’ve got the Kansas City Symphony right here in Kansas City. And we at USD 232, we preach real-world learning, and we teach that, and that’s such a big part of what we do. And so I think there’s no better example than (this).”
Other Johnson County young musicians news: For teens into orchestra, new JoCo ensemble offers bonding experience
