At the Aug. 26 Kingston school board meeting, Superintendent Paul Padalino announced that elementary school music lessons will be reduced from twice per six-day cycle to once per six-day cycle in an effort to improve math and reading scores.

“To have the pullouts that we need to have, whether they be for music lessons or other services, really interrupt that tier one instruction in reading,” Padalino said. “We know that the people in our music program are fantastic, but our main priority is 65% of our students who are reading below grade level.”

The announcement drew concern from several board members, who questioned whether reducing music instruction could hurt students in the program and have broader effects on their education.

Padalino said art and library are also offered once every six days, meaning music would not receive “different treatment.” Trustee Herb Lamb, however, said reducing music instruction could make it more difficult for students to develop foundational skills.

“You are teaching motor skills. You are teaching embouchure skills in three weeks or even two weeks,” Lamb said. “If you don't have those skills and you develop bad habits, it takes years to undo those, and the research says that music students do better in subject areas. I was two years ahead in math and science, and I thanked my music teachers for that.”

Trustee Michael Detweiler said he was concerned the reduction could have long-term consequences for the district’s music program.

“I’m concerned we’re cutting off the flow of water and nutrients to a program that will cause significant impact down the road,” Detweiler said.

Detweiler said fourth and fifth graders are at critical ages for developing musical skills and that reducing instruction could lead to fewer students enrolling in band programs in the future.

Trustee Stephanie Kearns also said she was “not pleased” with the decision, describing the music program as one of the “most attractive benefits” of the school district.

“I can't imagine it could ever be proven that adding in the time that would be taken to do those musical instruction times would help improve those numbers,” Kearns said, referring to math and reading scores. “I worry that that messaging can get lost and it can villainize any sort of enrichment opportunity that students may have, which to me is essential to a student's well-being.”

Padalino clarified that no music staffing positions are currently being cut after Board President Marc Rider raised concerns that the reduction in lessons could eventually be used to justify staff reductions. Padalino also said the district plans to increase music instruction at the pre-K level to offset the reduction in elementary school lessons.

Trustee Suzanne Jordan said the issue was not simply the amount of music instruction students receive, but how scheduling affects classroom instruction.

“I believe strongly in music in elementary school, but as a classroom teacher in elementary school, it's not the 30 minutes,” Jordan said. “It's a classroom teacher's ability to pull all the students together that they need at a time that works. And you would be amazed at how difficult it is to juggle because you don't have the same special area every day at the same time.”