www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 5, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 To support art education in K-12 schools, California voters approved Proposition 28 in 2022, providing $800 million to $1 billion per year to support existing arts programs. It requires schools to use 80 percent of the funds to employ certified teachers and 20 percent for training and materials. Schools have three years to spend their annual allocation; if they don’t, they need to return the remainder to the state. “A lot of our students are not going to piano lessons privately, or to theater privately or dance privately, because it’s cost-prohibitive. Being able to have it in the public school setting allows for greater equity in terms of student opportunity and access,” Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh says. Funds from Prop. 28, also known as the Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, started to arrive in February 2024. (The legislation allocates 1 percent of the K–12 portion of Prop. 98 funding, or minimum funding levels for schools, for the arts.) School districts are at different stages of implementation, and are taking different approaches. This year, for example, Alisal Union School District received $1.3 million and MPUSD received $1.5 million. At MPUSD, the funding supports existing art teacher positions in elementary schools and existing art classes in middle and high schools. The district expanded its arts programming in previous years using one-time Covid relief funds, and increased part-time art teacher positions to full time in elementary schools, as well as expanding elective art classes at all high schools. Alisal Union is fully rolling out its visual and performing arts programming this year with an itinerant art program. Seven teachers with art backgrounds were reassigned to develop and implement the district’s art curriculum, and provide demos to teachers they can integrate into their classes. AUSD also organized its first student poetry contest last year, drawing participation from all 13 schools in the district. Edi Porter, AUSD’s director of curriculum and instruction, says art programming has increased student, parent and staff engagement. At Salinas City Elementary School District, the program is still under development but the goal is to integrate art into everyday instruction. “We can make it part of our science lessons. We can make it part of our social studies discussions. We can make it part of our reading,” says Ron Dillender, SCESD’s associate superintendent of educational services. Porter offers an example: A theater activity in elementary school could be students interpreting a scene of Peter Pan during an English lesson. Kids can practice reading skills, build confidence and improve communication skills by incorporating performing arts into an existing curriculum module. “Art is more than just producing a product,” Dillender adds. “It’s about creative thinking.” Art Works Local school districts take different approaches to supplement art programs using state funds. By Celia Jiménez Students in Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Seaside take photos during a photography class led by the nonprofit the Weston Collective. NEWS “Art is more than just producing a product. It’s about creative thinking.” DANIEL DREIFUSS ONLY $32.99 EVERYTHING YOU NEED Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open Sat 2:30pm-4:30pm • Sun 10:30am-12:30pm 101 W. LAUREL DR, SALINAS • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more CHICK SEASON IS COMING! $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY SHAVINGS, PETLOCK, ADVANTAGE/ADVANTIX, OR SERESTO COLLARS. MUST PRESENT ENTIRE PHYSICAL COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. CHICKS FOR SALE: STARTING FEBRUARY 13, 2025 OUR CHICK BREEDS: RHODE ISLAND RED BARRED ROCK AMERAUCANA GOLDEN SEX LINK BLACK SEX LINK CORNISH CROSS WITH THE BEGINNER POULTRY KIT! New Year, New Leadership, New Vision With new leadership, Monterey County Bank aims to strengthen partnerships that support local businesses, promote sustainable development, and enrich the overall quality of life in Monterey County. montereycountybank.com We invite you to come visit us at one of our locations in Monterey, Salinas, Carmel and Pacific Grove.
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