Avery Parker displays her artwork back when she was a CES student in 2020. (Photo courtesy Corrin Parker)
Art classes at Coupeville Elementary School have been eliminated for the 2024-2025 school year.
The decision was announced Wednesday by Superintendent Steve King and completes a school board resolution passed in April.
That resolution, part of a “modified education plan” which was passed on a 4-1 vote, is part of an ongoing effort to cut the district’s budget by $1.66 million.
It eliminated the district’s secondary music/band program and called for an elementary school specialist program to be eliminated at a later date.
The choices were STEM or art, with art ultimately being chosen.
“This is not something that any of us want to do,” King said. “However given our financial situation and the board resolution passed in April reducing one specialist, we needed to make this difficult decision.
“We believe that we can ensure that students have access to art opportunities by incorporating into Science – Technology – Engineering – Art – Math (STEAM) and through classroom experiences.
“I am hopeful that this will be a short-term reduction and that our art program can be restored in the near future.”
King, who resigned earlier this year, departs Coupeville at the end of June, and will teach in Hawaii starting this fall.
He is being replaced by Shannon Leatherwood, who is leaving her position as principal at Spanaway Middle School. This marks her debut as a superintendent.
A full draft budget is expected to be revealed at Thursday’s school board meeting.
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