Although ESPEC has been focused on the elementary and middle schools, and Bishop in particular, we're concerned with good-quality education at all schools on the East Side, including Hope High. Clearly, if we are successful in bringing back good-quality middle school education, the high schools will have to be on our agenda sooner or later.
Recently, it was announced that Hope High was going to lose its theater teacher and program. This is at a school with Arts as one of its core components. It would leave only 2 theater teachers in Providence, one at Greene and one at Classical. The issue was before the School Board last Monday.
Last Monday's school board meeting was shut down by protests. The most vocal group was protesting the removal of a middle school principal but there were also Hope theater supporters there. (The meeting was not scheduled to allow public comment. The Board said they were legally precluded from adding a comment period. The protesters took exception and kept talking until the Board decided to postpone the meeting).
The Board moved the meeting to Monday, June 26 and scheduled public comment for then. The agenda can be viewed here. The Hope theater issue is still on it.
If you want to speak on this subject (or any other agenda item), or just want to hear the discussion (which will without question be highly interesting), the meeting is at 797 Westminster at 7pm Monday. (Usually the public meeting begins at 6:30, but this is special). There is usually 1/2 hour for comment. 3 minutes per person. You must arrive early to sign up.
As of tonight, we are hearing rumors that the program may not be cut after all, but have no confirmation of this. Until there's an official announcement, it's probably best to regard this as a live issue.
[...] Education Coalition’s website: Arts supporters and dedicated ESPEC readers will remember that the theater progam at Hope High was almost killed in the summer of 2006, but was saved at the last minute through the efforts of many supporters. This [...]