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Petition is addressed to: The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board
Request:
We urge the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education to retain the position of the dedicated technical theater teacher at Classen School of Advanced Studies Middle School, who also serves as the Technical Director of our theater program. This role is pivotal not only for the education and safety of our students but also for the integrity of the school's drama and theater productions.
Achievement Goals:
- Ensure Safety: Maintain a safe learning environment for students, particularly in handling technical theater equipment and managing the unique challenges posed by ongoing school renovations.
- Preserve Educational Quality: Continue providing specialized, hands-on technical education in theater arts, which is crucial for the holistic development of our students.
- Support Theater Operations: Sustain the operational excellence of our school’s theater productions by keeping a role that expertly manages the complex logistics and technical demands of modern theater.
Implementation:
- Community Engagement: Involve parents, teachers, and local arts organizations in discussions with the school board to highlight the community’s strong support for this position.
- Financial Considerations: Explore potential funding options, including local arts grants and partnerships with community theaters, to financially support the retention of this role.
- Awareness Campaigns: Conduct information sessions and demonstrations for school board members to showcase the impact and importance of the technical theater teacher in enhancing student learning and safety.
By retaining this essential position, Classen SAS Middle School will not only uphold the safety and quality of its drama program but also continue to nurture the talents and passions of its students in the performing arts.
Reason
Importance of the Petition:
The role of the technical theater teacher at Classen SAS Middle School is foundational to both the safety and enrichment of our educational environment. This position is crucial for:
- Student Safety: Ensuring that students handle complex stage equipment safely, which is particularly critical during the current extensive school renovations.
- Educational Excellence: Providing irreplaceable technical training that enriches students’ arts education and prepares them for diverse career paths.
- Community and Cultural Development: Enhancing community engagement and supporting the growth of local cultural initiatives through our thriving theater program.
Concerns Over Recent Developments:
Recently, our community was dismayed to learn that the board decided to terminate the technical theater teacher’s position without proper discussion or transparency. This decision was communicated to the teacher quietly on the day before the last day of school, amidst the chaos of deconstructing the entire theater for renovations. Shockingly, this action was taken without informing the Department or considering the potential impact on the well-being of our students and the integrity of the department.
Urgency for Action:
Immediate action is necessary:
- Lack of Transparency: The manner in which the decision was made—without input from educators or the community—highlights a significant disregard for the stakeholders it affects most.
- Safety and Continuity Risks: With ongoing renovations and the upcoming school year, it is critical to maintain continuity and safety standards in our theater program, which are jeopardized by this abrupt staffing change.
- Community Response: There is substantial community and parental concern over this decision, necessitating urgent reconsideration by the board to address these grievances and restore trust.
The retention of the technical theater teacher is critical not only for maintaining educational quality and safety but also for upholding the values of transparency and community engagement in school governance. We must act now to ensure that our children continue to receive the best possible education in a safe and supportive environment.
News
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Email sent to OKCPS Board
on 22 May 2024Oklahoma City Public Schools
615 N Classen Blvd,
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
Dear Chair Paula Lewis and the OKCPS Board,
This letter is to express our urgent concern regarding the proposed elimination of the dedicated technical theater teacher position at Classen School of Advanced Studies Middle School.
Not only would the loss of this position negatively impact the school’s ability to educate and effectively execute theater productions, but there is also a significant safety concern that should be considered.
The school’s theater program is a vital part of the Classen SAS Middle School community and parents have stepped up to ensure its success. This past school year, parents collectively volunteered over 350 hours to support its proper and safe functioning. Notably, 30% of these hours were dedicated in the past three weeks to assist in packing costumes, props, set decorations and theater equipment ahead of the auditorium’s renovation.
The program has also garnered strong community engagement with ticket sales rising from 1,482 during the 2022-23 school year to 2,296 this year—an increase of 55%! This growth not only reflects the quality of our productions but also the vital role that a specialized technical theater teacher and director plays in guiding our students to achieve these outstanding results.
But the technical director not only helps ensure this continued success; they will also play a critical role in ensuring the safety of students next school year.
Amid the ongoing renovations of our school’s auditorium, the technical director would be responsible for helping students navigate offsite production setups and the continued class activities adjacent to an active construction area.
We understand the constraints imposed by the renovation, particularly regarding space for construction and storage. However, we believe it is essential for the district to work collaboratively with parents, teachers and the community to find viable solutions. In just one day of sourcing, parents have already identified potential leads for space that can accommodate the needs of our technical theater program. It is both possible and viable to find space for the technical theater teacher to teach and for the safe operational use of costumes, props, set decorations and the construction shop.
We must emphasize again that the proposed elimination of the technical theater position raises significant safety concerns. Technical theater involves the use of complex machinery, heavy equipment, and electrical systems that require expert handling and oversight. Without a dedicated technical theater teacher, our students will be exposed to risks that could lead to serious injuries. The technical director and teacher plays a critical role in educating students on safety protocols and ensuring that all equipment is used correctly.
But beyond safety concerns, this position is also an integral component of a drama student’s holistic learning experience. As per research conducted by the Educational Theatre Association and others, technical theater education fosters critical thinking, creativity, technical skills and safety awareness. Students involved in technical theater score higher on standardized tests and are more likely to graduate and acquire skills that are highly valued in the workforce
Given these considerations, we urge you to maintain the dedicated technical theater teacher position for the next academic year to ensure the continued high quality and safety of our school’s drama productions.
Thank you for considering our concerns. We are eager to further discuss this matter and assist in finding viable solutions that will benefit our students and enhance the reputation of our school's esteemed drama program.
Parents of Classen SAS MS Drama Students
&
C.A.S.T. - The Classen Actors Support Team
Ben Felder
CAST President (2024-25 School year)
btfelder@gmail.com
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