By Caryn Lieberman
The TDSB recently slashed funding for the itinerant music instructor (IMI) program at 227 schools. IMI includes instruction on steel pan, string instruments and band for students in grades 5 to 8.
The cut amounts to a 24 per cent reduction in funding for the hours of itinerant music instructors.
At Rosedale, however, the cut to the steel pan program was closer to 80 per cent because, as the TDSB explained to Global News, the school had a greater number of hours than others.
“In the case of Rosedale JPS, the number of IMI hours allocated was much higher than the system average and resulted in a larger reduction when compared to other schools,” executive superintendent Sandy Spyropoulos said in a letter sent home to parents.
Steel pan has been taught for more than two decades at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) school. Instructor Salmon Cupid runs the program at Rosedale and four other Toronto schools.
Replies
There might be a SILVER LINING HERE.
Now SALMON CUPID might have more time to take the E-PAN and go into the studio and makes some GLOBAL PAN MUSIC. Who knows? It might sell so well he will be able to FUND HIS OWN STEELPAN ACADEMY.
Hmm... Cuts to TDSB enriched music programs leave parents bereft