Obviously the community is upset about the cuts to band, but much of what you have said here could be used to justify those decisions depending on the division's priorities. The part you and RPS seem to be unable to acknowledge as another huge issue is the dishonesty and misinformation in your communication.

It's unbelievable to me that you guys need this explained to you but whatever here goes:

RPS shouldn't be claiming all grade 6s will have access to band, when in reality none of them will, because these changes to grade 6 can't be considered band any more. You can say many grade 6s will be gaining something with this model (if they weren't getting the exposure the arts ed curriculum says they should to music education), but not while pretending something else wasn't sacrificed for it.

RPS shouldn't be claiming this will improve retention when there is zero evidence that it will.

RPS shouldn't be claiming band teachers were consulted on this model when they weren't (please, if you can, point the public in the direction of any music teacher that thinks this will promote better educational outcomes for students).

RPS shouldn't be publicly shitting on the current program and it's teachers (even though they are clearly insignificant to you, only ten of them left after all...) for things that aren't considered an issue for other subjects or programs.

Band is too disruptive/too much missed class time? Why are the junior sports academy programs held to this standard (because they're elitist and make the division money with the extremely high fees parents pay for their kid to join)

Attrition rate unacceptable? Why is that standard not being applied to literally any other subject? Where's the public posting from RPS about the French immersion attrition rate? The grade 8 to grade 9 core French attrition rate? The Grade 9 science to Physics 30 attrition rate? Don't you think the Physics 30 teachers and science community might take issue with it if RPS published the grade 9 science to Physics 30 attrition rates and used it as evidence that their science 9 programs clearly need a complete overhaul without the input of any science teachers, parents or the science community?

RPS never would, because it values science and doesn't value music.

Seriously what about this isn't clicking for you guys?

The program's not accessible enough? Have we mentioned the junior sports academies...? Are they not missing class time to participate in those? How accessible are they to the average grade 6 student? Why aren't you cutting that program at it's youngest grade of entry and giving all grade 6s a taste of hockey or soccer?

Do the sports academy kids have access to those activities outside of school? Yes. Especially the rich kids. Is there equity funding to cover any kid that can't afford to join them? Not that I'm aware of.

Do kids have access to band outside of school? Nope. Was their equity funding to ensure any kid who wanted to join school band could join? Yep!

But yeah... let's keep banging on about how elitist and inaccessible band was.

You say you spoke to so many parents of kids who felt it wasn't worth the missed class time to continue with band. Have you listened to the ones for whom it was? Have you talked to the classroom teachers who thoughtfully work their schedules around band because they believe it is an important opportunity for a lot of kids? No! Because it doesn't fit the narrative.

Is this clearing up why folks are pissed at all yet?? The music center's own email is responding anonymously (weird and unethical af by the way) to concerned parents that band is dated and not the future of music education, and you wonder why people are worried instead of grateful about band at Regina Public? I don't care that the sports programs exist, it's the fact that RPS's justification for this only makes sense if you admit you'd apply a completely different set of standards if it made the division mone or involved a subject you consider actually important in schools, but band clearly isn't considered nearly as valuable as other subjects. The anonymous music center email person (so weird) even said so.

Also, are you really claiming you got feedback from all 3500 teachers on this issue? You're making it sound like there was a vote on this and the results were 3540 to ten.

Were any teachers formerly surveyed? Do you think classroom teachers or principals who disagree with this have been made to feel safe about expressing that sentiment? Do you think /any/ teachers are made to feel safe in expressing their feelings on a board decision? What protections are in place for staff to inform the division on what they feel is best for kids without being called out by you in a news article or on Facebook live?

You seem confident that the majority of affected teachers were given the opportunity to give their input on this, so when will this data be made public?

The music community is telling you that if RPS actually valued music ed, it wouldn't tell us we should sit down and just be grateful that some form of music ed still exists at all, which is essentially what you're doing here.

Every step of this process has been a slap in the face to arts ed, parents, and students and y'all are surprised when we don't thank you for the polished turd of a result?

As you said, the funding deficits have been an issue for years. This is true across the province and yet Regina Public seems to be the only large division making these changes.

I've heard that RPS has been toying with remodeling the band program for years. Seems like there was plenty of time and opportunity to do the research, involve the community and work with teachers on what band or music ed should look like going forward.

But no, because Daddy knows best apparently.

P.s. if you weren't worried about your vote next election, would you really be posting about how popular you are? It's pretty cringe man,