To the editor:

Dear Superintendent Dr. Peter Sanchioni, and School Committee members, Dr. Jerome Larkin; Diane Farnworth; Sally Black; Deb Pallasch; Elaine Pavao …

As an organization that has supported and supplemented the Tiverton Public Schools’ music programming for more than 35 years, Tiverton Encourages Music Participation Organization (TEMPO) does not accept the elimination of Daniel Snizek and Kimberly Testa, two of the Tiverton Public Schools’ five music educators.

We believe that reorganizing the three music educators and attenuating music programming across the district will subvert what has been a fundamental pillar in the education of Tiverton students, and enriches the Tiverton community as a whole.

The elimination of Mr. Snizek and Mrs. Testa decimates instrumentation, vocal training, and performance experiences for orchestral, choral, concert, and jazz musicians, affecting approximately 25 percent of the Tiverton High School student body.

The relationships that develop in these classes, after school practices, and community performances form music families, similar to the relationships built on an athletic team. These are highly valuable to a young adult’s social-emotional growth and nurture an essential sense of belonging.

In this unprecedented time of recreating models of education, please ask yourselves not only what can we go without, but what we need for Tiverton’s education system to maintain excellence. Our school system should be investing in functional technology, platforms, software, and professional development to encourage innovative teaching and learning.

By minimizing rather than modernizing music education in our schools, our town can no longer declare that we provide quality, creative, well-rounded education for all students.

We understand the economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic both nationally and locally, and the insecurity of funding for the upcoming school year across the nation. We are hopeful that the school committee and superintendent will follow their commitment to bring educators back to our students once funding is made available to states.

We encourage the school committee, and the town of Tiverton. to prioritize quality, arts-rich education in a more modern and technologically focused manner guided by our valuable music education professionals. The students and families of Tiverton deserve rich music education whether on-line or in the classroom.

Sincerely, TEMPO Executive Board:

Holly Flanagan, president

Julie Baker, vice president

Kenneth Carlisle, treasurer

Carrie Taber, secretary

Tiverton