APS needs to rethink priorities when it comes to arts activities

Teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication, perseverance: These are just some of the great morals and values taught by show choir.

I have been in show choir for 10 years now. I started show choir when I was in middle school, and later auditioned for and made it into the what the Journal has painted as the notorious Eldorado High School show choir, Gold Rush.

The lessons I learned while participating in that group have inspired me in more ways than any other extracurricular activity I was involved in. It prepared me as an actor, singer and dancer wanting to make his way on Broadway and has taught me morals that have made me a better functioning citizen in my community.

I now use those skills and lessons to inspire children in show choir here in New Mexico. I see the difference show choir has made in the lives of many students.

Even more so, it’s been proven that students involved in music score higher on their ACTs and SATs than other students. Can the fees get astronomically high compared to say, football? Well yes, but then again, we don’t receive a hefty stipend from the state, and unlike football, each show choir in the city actually competes on a national level.

Unbeknownst to most people in Albuquerque, APS is home to nationally ranked and recognized show choirs. We can’t say the same about our sports. Yet, they get funding at the drop of a hat.

Do you want to know what’s truly unconscionable and not right? The fact that Albuquerque Public Schools has “figurehead” type positions, such as Monica Armenta’s PR position, that get paid over $100,000 annually. For each unnecessary position filled at APS, we are shorting and stiffing the parents of the students by that amount, forcing them to pay the difference. If you used those salaries to pay our schools instead of bureaucrats, we wouldn’t have these hefty fees on our families

The question isn’t “why do parents have to pay this?” It’s “why isn’t APS paying this?” Stop scrutinizing the fine arts and step up to the plate!

APS’ priority should be the students and their wellrounded education, not salaries and fat-cats. APS might want to re-think its priorities.