Parent voices concerns to school board regarding music program

During the public comment period of the September Hot Springs County School Board meeting, Amanda Coxbill presented concerns to the board regarding the open music teacher position at Thermopolis Middle School and Hot Springs County High School

Coxbill said, “My really big concern is my son is very musically inclined. I unfortunately am not. My concern is the music teacher position. I know this is not a surprise to anybody, but I’m really just coming to ask if there’s anything that I can do to help the situation.”

She added, “I work in corporate finance. I do understand budgeting, financing and moving funds around. I also am really good at cold-calling people and outreach. So if there’s something that I can do to help that in any way possible, I just want to offer my services. There are students that do find music really important.”

Coxbill added that she hired a high school-aged music teacher to help her seventh grader learn music but is concerned her son needs a professional teacher to reach the next level. 

School board member Nicole Weyer responded to Coxbill and said, “I want you to know that as a board member, music is one of my top priorities. I was a music major in college for a number of years and there probably isn’t a meeting or a time that I don’t talk to Mr. Hunt that I bring up to the music program. So I want you to know I share your same concerns and I am at the same time looking at solutions.” Weyer also said, “I share your same sense. It’s heartbreaking right now because I think to me music is a second language and to me, I think every student should have to be in a choir or band, even in a middle school.”

Coxbill also described a school program in Portland, Oregon, which her son previously attended and how they incorporated art in all subjects, including math and others. “It’s a really art-focused school but still had to meet curriculum. I do think it’s well-rounded as well.” 

Final comments on the subject came from Chairman Sherman Skelton who added to the conversation by mentioning the Hathaway requirements such as having a second language and that reading music might be considered as one. He said, “I think we have to kind of think out of the box of how we can serve those kids, you know, to where we offer some of those additional things. And that is a discussion I’m happy to have with our state legislators.”