Every program in the K-12 pipeline — and what happens to each.
The proposed cut hits elementary music. The ripple hits everything else. Here is the full pipeline, in order.
Where the damage starts
K–5 Elementary — the program being cut
Classroom music in every Gresham-Barlow elementary school. This is the program the proposed budget eliminates outright.
music
Elementary General Music — the program being cut
All 9 GBSD elementary schools
Weekly K-5 general music — the on-ramp that feeds every middle school band and choir, every high school ensemble. The proposed budget eliminates it from every elementary building in the district.
★[PLACEHOLDER: actual annual cost — fill in once we have the budget figures]
★Reaches every K-5 student in the district — no opt-in, no audition
★Direct feeder for middle school band and choir at all 5 GBSD middle schools
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Elementary Choir Clubs
[PLACEHOLDER: which elementary schools currently host after-school choirs]
After-school choirs that depend on the general music classroom for recruitment and basic literacy. Without K-5 music, these collapse first.
★Recruits exclusively from general music classes
★First stage performance for many GBSD students
Year 1–4 of the ripple
6–8 Middle School — directly downstream
Beginning band, beginning choir, and theater at all five GBSD middle schools. Every one of these depends on K-5 music as a feeder.
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Middle School Band — directly downstream
All 5 GBSD middle schools
Beginning, intermediate, and symphonic band depend on a steady stream of K-5 students who can already read rhythm and pitch. Cut elementary music and beginning band enrollment is projected to drop within two years.
★[PLACEHOLDER: projected enrollment drop — fill in once district data is available]
★Direct feeder to Gresham HS Wind Ensemble and Sam Barlow band
choir
Middle School Choir — directly downstream
All 5 GBSD middle schools
Sixth-grade choir relies on K-5 singing experience. Without it, advanced and treble choirs lose the prerequisite skills and the pipeline shrinks year after year.
★Direct feeder for Sam Barlow Symphonic Choir and GHS Chamber Choir
theater
Middle School Theater
[PLACEHOLDER: which middle schools have theater]
Annual musicals depend on a singing-confident cast. As K-5 music disappears, casts thin, productions scale down, and the program becomes harder to staff.
Year 3–5 of the ripple
9–12 High School — the next domino
GHS, Sam Barlow, and Springwater Trail ensembles, theater, and the Oregon arts CTE pathway. Cannot survive without a K-12 pipeline.
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Gresham HS Music
Gresham High School
Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Orchestra. Every one of these ensembles is fed from middle school. Cut K-5 music and within five years GHS music programs cannot fill auditioned seats.
★Wind Ensemble: GHS's only auditioned high school band
choir
Sam Barlow HS Music
Sam Barlow High School
Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, and Orchestra. Every one of these ensembles is fed from middle school. Cut K-5 music and within five years SBHS music programs cannot fill auditioned seats.
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Sam Barlow HS Choir
Data
music
Gresham HS Choir
Data
theater
Sam Barlow Theater
Sam Barlow High School
Two main-stage productions and a one-act festival per year. Musical theater depends on singing confidence built K-12.
theater
Gresham HS Theater & Stagecraft
Gresham High School
Year-round theater and a stagecraft class. The musical season relies on cast members with K-12 vocal training.
dance
Dance & Movement
Gresham HS, Sam Barlow
Public-school dance offerings — sometimes the only access east-county families have. Tied to the broader performing arts CTE pathway.
visual
Visual Arts (paired with the performing arts CTE pathway)
Gresham HS, Sam Barlow, Springwater Trail
AP Studio Art and graphic design, paired with performing arts as part of the Oregon Arts CTE pathway. Pathway viability depends on the full K-12 arts program staying intact.
These programs need you to speak up — now.
The board only hears the room. Sign the petition; email them; show up.