This year at SHS, there are fewer kids in art classes and fewer classes being offered. Art classes, such as music, pottery, and drawing, are being affected by a recent change in how classes are scheduled. The school is no longer taking elective courses into consideration when scheduling required classes. In other words, required classes are given priority over electives.
“There are definitely some students unable to take [choir] this year due to scheduling conflicts,” said Xavier Vogt, a junior taking concert choir this semester. Prior to this statement, Vogt said that they were unable to take choir next semester due to a conflicting time with another class. Schedule conflicts have affected multiple students in choir and other music classes, making them unable to take both semesters, if at all.
After the 2023 seniors graduated, the SHS concert choir experienced a sizeable decrease in members. With returning members and new members unable to take the class due to scheduling conflicts, the choir’s size is reduced even further. Fewer members in the choir affects the volume and section balance during performances.
Music classes aren’t the only classes being affected by schedule changes. Fine Arts classes, such as drawing, painting, and digital art classes, are also being impacted.
“I had a friend who wanted to go into computer arts, [which] was taken off the roster because they didn’t have a teacher to teach it,” Vogt said. Due to the staff decrease from last year, the fine arts department decreased from three art teachers to two. With fewer art teachers, the school had to cut down the number of art classes offered.
“We are not offering classes this semester that students need to develop their portfolios if they intend on pursuing an art career,” art teacher Ruth Phillips said. Because of the decrease in offered art classes, there are fewer options for students who want to go into the arts after high school. This could potentially be detrimental to their future careers. Without the classes they need, they won’t be prepared for college courses. “It’s not fair to the students that want to pursue art,” Phillips said.