Greater Orange News Service

MUSIC MATTERS COMMITTEE
Begins planning to Save OUSD MUSIC

A committee of concerned citizens in the Orange Unified School District called the Music Matters Committee (MMC) has announced that they have hired Dr. John Benham, a Music Advocacy Expert from SupportMusic.Com. Starting next month, the MMC is planning a series of meetings with Dr. Benham and the community to help develop a report and findings on how to reinstate the music program in Orange Unified. The MMC will also be working with Yamaha Cares to plan a Music Appreciation community meeting.

The bold move in hiring Benham is seen as a serious step in saving OUSD elementary music by the community music activists. Benham, the former CSU Fullerton Instrumental Music Coordinator, is currently president of the St. Paul, MN based non-profit Music in World Cultures, Inc. as well as Director of Graduate Studies in Music at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is also recognized as the foremost expert in saving and restoring school music programs. He is credited with saving over $62 million in budgetary reductions in music throughout the United States and Canada. His successes have resulted in the restoration of over 1500 teaching positions, and the continuation of music opportunities for over 300,000 students. A budget expert, he is author of the manuscript "How to Save Your School Music Program - A Handbook for the Music Advocate".

For more information on SupportMusic.com CLICK ON:
http://www.supportmusic.com/

For more information on Yamaha Cares CLICK ON:
http://www.yamaha.com/yamahacares/index.asp

PTA OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM INFORMATION MEETING
Parents who are as nervous and confused as some of California’s high school students about the California High School Exit Exam (commonly known by its ludicrous acronym “CaHSSE”) can attend an informational presentation on the required California test on Monday February 27th. The presentation is sponsored by the Fourth District PTA. The presentation will be presented by Dr. Stephanie Schneider, the Coordinator of Assessment and Accountability for the Orange County Department of Education. The presentation will touch on the most common areas of confusion about the Exit Exam. A simultaneous Spanish translation will be provided. The meeting is open to all parents and id encouraged for those with middle or high school students. The meeting will take place on Monday February 27th at Columbus Middle School in Tustin at 7:00 p.m.

Columbus Middle School is located at 17952 Beneta Way,Tustin CA 92780.
For a map to the school from MAPQUEST CLICK ON:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=internal&addtohistory=&latitude=CsXEcLIaMY4%3d&longitude=%2fzVHQN4KnpUcuQy7ARZAew%3d%3d&name=Columbus%20Tustin%20Middle%20School&country=US&address=17952%20Beneta%20Way&city=Tustin&state=CA&zipcode=92780&phone=714%2d730%2d7352&spurl=0&&q=columbus%20middle%20school&qc=Schools%20%28K%2d12%29

For More information on the PTA sponsored meeting CLICK ON:
http://www.fourthdistrictpta.org/forms/CASHEE_CONFERENCE.pdf


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