Lorain Schools looks to expand visual, performing arts

LORAIN – Lorain Schools will expand its arts offerings starting next fall. Ross May, executive director of strategic planning, data and process, gave an overview of the district's plans to add visual and performing arts offerings for all of its students. Robust arts programs make students five times more likely to graduate on time, May said at Monday's Board of Education meeting, with the greatest benefit to students from low socioeconomic standing. Arts programs also help students socially and emotionally, and are the No. 1 recommendation to prevent dropouts - more so than credit recovery, after school or aversion programs. As part of the district's Academic Improvement Plan to be released from state control, Lorain Schools must boost its graduation rate, and reduce chronic absenteeism, among other metrics. That plan, approved by the interim State Superintendent in December, aligns with the district's strategic plan to increase extracurricular offerings through 2025. Currently, arts offerings depend on which building a child attends, May said. The vast majority of the district's elementary schools have art classes taught off a rolling cart – meaning projects are limited to those without major cleanup, and the same is said for music. At the middle school, the choir rooms are used for in-school suspension instead of the extracurricular activity, and each of the three buildings has a different schedule. The high school has the most options, but even those are only at the introductory level for visual arts, Ross said. In a survey, students and their families made it clear they want more options – with dance a highly sought-after medium from the littlest to biggest Titans. Starting the 2022-23 school year, elementary schools will have dedicated visual art and music classes once a week, and options for music starting with percussion in preschool through second grade, then recorders in third grade. Fourth-graders and their families expressed interest in the ukulele, and piano will be available starting in fifth grade. Middle schoolers want everything, May said, making the schedule a little more challenging. Currently, the district is looking at offering exploratory paths to sixth-graders, allowing them to sample music, visual arts and dance throughout the year, and then choose semester or year-long offerings in seventh and eighth grade. It also plans to expand offerings for high school credit to eighth-graders, adding health class, Algebra I, Spanish I and marching band. High schoolers will see more advanced arts options, including tiered ceramics, and digital arts, as well as dance. CEO Jeff Graham said the district will be utilizing its own staff, not a contracted company, to fulfill its arts education needs. Contact Carissa Woytach at cwoytach@chroniclet.com.