Rally for the Arts

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(Gallery by John Suchocki, The Republican)

NORTHAMPTON – Hundreds of high school students walked out of school Wednesday afternoon and rallied at the Unitarian Universalist Society lawn for their school's future.



Students along with some parents held signs that read "Music has given me a voice, please don't take it away."

They spoke out about their concerns that budget cuts threaten the arts and music programs at the school. They also performed, showcasing the programs they were trying to save.

The School Committee is facing a possible $1.2 million gap and is looking at potentially cutting nearly two dozen positions throughout the system including an art teacher at the high school as well as cutting back on the hours of some positions.

Ana Baustin, a senior and one of the organizers, said, “Arts have had such an impact” in her life and she wanted to ensure they continue for others after she graduates. They started organizing the rally Friday and scheduled it during the school day because “we wanted everyone to come.” Demonstrating their support for the programs “is just as important as school.”

Ileana Curtis, a 15-year-old sophomore, held a sign that read “Don’t Erase Our Fingerprints.” If the school takes are the arts, “we become one and the same person,” she said.

Nomi Winsor, a 16-year-old sophomore, held a sign that read, “Art is my friend” “We don’t want the arts taken away from our school…It would be boring,” she said. Students walked out after third period and were told on the intercom as they left that they would be marked absent for fourth period but the students felt it was more important to leave than stay, Winsor said.

Mayor David J. Narkewicz was at the rally, which was just outside his office. He said was there to listen to the students. He has been holding a series of Town Hall meetings to listen to residents about the fiscal 2014 budget.

“This is great,” he said of the rally. His daughter Emma was there in the crowd. “They love their school, they feel passionate (about it.)”

He said the city is struggling with a budget gap and is addressing various ways to bridge it. Some preliminary areas of cuts have been offered. “We’re hoping to stave off some of the cuts,” he said. The School Department has to present a budget to him by the middle of April. Overall, the city is looking at a $2.4 million gap, according to the preliminary fiscal 2014 budget.

Samantha Fox, a 15-year-old sophomore, loves the arts too, but said she was concerned that the lone engineering class at the school could also be in jeopardy. “Engineering that’s the future,” she said. It’s a field “with the biggest growth in jobs.” And she said she wasn’t seeing “support for engineering with the rally.”