Parents outraged as SLO County school district contemplates slashing music funding
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Hidden within a lengthy list of proposed budget cuts totaling $5 million by the San Luis Coastal school district sits a single line item that has sparked strong emotions among families and students.
Originally listed as a $150,000 cut to the music budget, the proposal has since been reduced to $100,000, according to district officials.
The document described the cut as affecting the district’s contribution to music programs currently used for instruments, field trips, and related activities.
But district parent Maeve Holden argues that the label doesn’t capture the full picture.
“That line was actually our entire music budget,” Holden explained regarding the original $150,000 proposal. “That covers all support for the students and for the music program—choir, and it spans elementary, middle, and high school. It’s the whole program.”
Importantly, the proposed reductions do not target staff jobs or salaries, and the district says it does not intend to eliminate music classes.
District assistant superintendent of business services, Ryan Pinkerton, confirmed that the cut would represent most of the district’s funding for music operations.
“We pledge to meet with each program and teacher to review needs and wants and to do what is necessary to keep our programs thriving,” he stated.
What would a $100,000 cut mean for SLO music programs?
The Tribune asked Pinkerton to clarify the proposed reduction, and he confirmed it accounts for the majority of district-allocated funding for music operations across all sites.
If approved, individual schools would need to share the remaining $50,000 to cover expenses such as piano tuning, instrument repairs, performance venue rentals, and travel.
Otherwise, music programs may have to rethink some operations to absorb the loss.
“It is meaningful to those programs and could lead to changes in what they’ve been able to do,” Pinkerton wrote in an email. “For example, programs rent the Cal Poly PAC for performances, which costs several thousand dollars per show. They may need to perform on-site or schedule multiple performances at smaller venues. Some trips and student gatherings may also need to be reconsidered.”
Pinkerton added that schools could reorganize their own budgets to allocate more to music.
The cuts also don’t draw from Proposition 28 funds, which provide additional arts funding to California schools. He suggested that campuses might use Prop. 28 money or fundraisers to bridge the gap.
“The $100,000 represents 1% of our $10 million in reductions,” he noted, referencing the district’s ongoing structural budget deficit that has produced $5 million in cuts last year and another $5 million proposed for this year.
Parents warn cuts could harm fine arts and students
Though $100,000 compares unfavorably with the substantial layoffs planned for teachers, counselors, and aides, the amount is still a meaningful lifeline for an already underfunded arts program.
“Max’s music teacher already fixes as many instruments as possible,” Holden told The Tribune. “He’s already working overtime and buying reeds for the saxophones out of his own pocket. We’re barely keeping within our budget.”
The SLO Instrumental Music Boosters Association, which supports music programs at SLO High School and Laguna Middle School, drafted a letter opposing the cuts, which was circulated by the San Luis Coastal Parent Information Network.
The letter argues that the proposed reductions threaten the stability and long-term viability of music programs. Club president Kait Diringer stated, “Music education isn’t extra—it’s essential. Our programs bring together students from diverse backgrounds to share something meaningful and lasting. Cuts of this magnitude endanger the core of what makes our schools strong. For many students, these programs influence positive outcomes inside and outside the classroom.”
The letter also urged community members to lobby PG&E for funds to offset the loss tied to Diablo Canyon’s depreciation and the resulting unitary tax impact.
The San Luis Coastal school board is slated to discuss the impending cuts at a Tuesday meeting—the same evening as a scheduled band concert, which means band students and teachers may not be able to attend to advocate for their programs.
Holden urged supporters to attend the meeting to back those who cannot be there.
“We just need community members to speak up and let the board know how important this is for the students,” she told The Tribune emotionally. “This is one of the last things they have left.”
Sadie Dittenber covers education for The Tribune and is a California Local News Fellow through UC Berkeley's School of Journalism. She is a graduate of The College of Idaho, with a degree in international political economy.
