In perhaps a historic opening, a couple of residents brought and played instruments in the hallway of the town building before the start of the Aug. 24 School Committee meeting where the Music Pilot was addressed for over 20 minutes during public comment.
The school committee members and administration filled the room along with approximately 20 other residents, musicians and students. Eleven guests chose to speak and were allotted two minutes each to express their views.
Leah Levine voiced her support for trying out the new music pilot at Loker. She said she had worked for Principal Brian Jones for over seven years and spoke highly of his care for the school and students. She said that the pilot would not have been created without great thought and consideration from the administration, the school committee and many teachers who are in favor of it.
Resident James Markey spoke against the new pilot, saying that implementation of the new music pilot will “create a problem that doesn’t currently exist.”
Jazz singer and trumpeter Christine Fawson, a former professor at the Berklee School of Music, talked about music being a universal language, saying, “Students’ brains need music.”
The president of CAPA (the Creative Arts Parent Association), Vickie Lai, spoke about music education in the Wayland elementary schools as being part of a bigger picture. She said, “Elementary education is a pipeline that feeds into other programs. As a mom, I want future children to have access to music education.”
Penny Wayne Shapiro said she wanted to speak strongly against the new pilot and explained that “music is not an extra” and that music education can develop the brain in learning in a way that nothing else can.
Danielle Hardie, organizer of the petition, spoke against the pilot and read statistics from DESE that show high marks for Loker statistics. She also presented the school committee with the hard copy of the petition that includes the support and signature of over 450 residents.
Joseph Hardie used his two minutes to say, “While the School Committee may allow this pilot to go through, we would suggest measurable oversight.” He suggested a midterm review to look at data.
Professional drummer Casey Scheurell, who also taught at the Berklee School of Music, explained how music is especially important for students with special needs and personalized it by describing how music instruction helped his own son with epilepsy.
Anne-Louise Klaus, also a professional musician, spoke about the importance of small group classes and rallied to keep them. “Small groups are important for fostering a sense of security and provide a safe space for students to learn,” she said.
WHS alumnus and college student Josh Nuspl said, “The music lessons in the elementary schools are so, so important because they lay the foundation.” He questioned whether music educators in the district had been considered or heard in regard to initiating the new music pilot.
The last of the speakers was Maura Sherman, Loker PTO’s president, who said she would not take a public stand on the pilot in light of her position. However, she said, “Loker is a loving environment.” Sherman said she thought that many respectful conversations will need to take place in the future.
