Arts Advocates Meeting Notes

Monthly Meetings
GRPS Arts Advocates are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:45 p.m. in room 101 at the Franklin Campus, 1331 Franklin SE.

Arts Advocates Meeting - January 10, 2007

GRPS Arts Advocates met at the Franklin Campus. Present were Charley Honey, Julie Powell, Paul Zarzecki, Lisa Honeycutt, John Hartel, Jen Wilson, Pat Tergerson, Dan Slagter, Sandra Harper, Loren Harper, Tim DeYoung and Karen Haight.

Pat Tergerson read the minutes from the Nov. 8 meeting, which were approved. The group discussed planning for Arts Jam 2007 to be held Feb . 25 at St. Cecilia. Julie said there are about a dozen new artists with works to be auctioned, which will include about 80 decorated end tables and benches. The poster design was complete and Julie will have them printed at the Kent Intermediate School District.

We extensively discussed the summer camp scholarships that will be funded by proceeds from Arts Jam. Several people asked what the criteria will be for choosing students. Some music teachers also expressed interest in having younger students funded to less expensive camps than Interlochen, such as Blue Lake and Calvin College. Pat said she would bring costs for those camps to the Feb. 14 meeting. Rick Brunson will be invited to help us iron out details of the application and selection process.

There was also considerable discussion of the list of art and music program needs Julie is putting together for the Student Advancement Foundation. Lisa and other teachers questioned why dedicated classrooms and portables can't be put on the list. Julie said that is not part of the funding program, only equipment that will stay in the rooms we now have. John suggested we could go to the school board and lobby for better facilities and security.

The committee unanimously approved a new mission statement for the group:
"We, a coalition of parents, faculty and community members, believe music, visual arts, dramatic arts, dance and creative writing are essential to an excellent education, and
therefore must be protected and promoted. "Our mission is to be an advocate for stronger
arts education in Grand Rapids Public Schools, and to promote the value of, and participation in, our school art programs to the broader community."

The group adjourned at 8:29 p.m. The next meeting of the GRPS Arts Advocates will be Wednesday, Feb. 14 at the Franklin Campus.
Arts Advocates Meeting - September 14, 2005
GRPS Arts Advocates met Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the Franklin Campus, 1331 Franklin SE, for their first meeting of the 2005-06 school year.

Attending were Nona Marie Collver, Len Allman, Rick Brunson, Tara Terwillegar, Julie Powell, Obe Vandertol, Karen Haight, Paul Zarzecki, Charles Pinneo, Alesia Albin, Chad Williams, Sue Brown, Lisa Honeycutt, Pat Tergerson, Dan Slagter, Joe Reed, Loren Harper, John Hartel and Charley Honey.

The group approved a meeting schedule for the school year. We will meet at 6:45 p.m. on the second Wednesday in October, November, January, February, and May. Unlike past years when we met in various locations, we will meet every month in room 101 at the Franklin Campus, 1331 Franklin SE. Hopefully this will improve continuity and reduce confusion.

Smaller working groups, such as the Arts Jam planning group and a group working on recruitment and membership, will meet according to their own schedules. The aim is to spend less general meeting time on the details of these efforts.

Officers were elected for the upcoming year. They are: Loren Harper, parent co-chair; Obe Vanertol, faculty co-chair; Alesia Albin, parent vice chair; Lisa Honeycutt, faculty vice chair; John Hartel, treasurer; and Charley Honey, secretary.

The group also unanimously approved serving as an advisory board to ACE High, the fine arts small school within Union High School. Chad Williams, assistant principal in charge of ACE, asked for our assistance in locating community resources and to act as a sounding board for new program ideas. We will receive reports from him at each meeting. Members were excited by the natural linkage between our group and ACE (Arts, Communications and Entertainment). ACE is demonstrating one of our core convictions -- that an arts-rich curriculum benefits overall student performance. ACE has excellent attendance and the best average GPA among district high schools other than City High.

While eager to serve ACE High in this capacity, Arts Advocates members reiterated that our mission is to enhance the arts opportunities of ALL students in the district. It is our hope that the success of ACE will encourage other schools to strengthen arts offerings and incorporate the arts into academics.

We also unanimously approved disbursing grants of up to $200 for each art and music teacher in the district, to be used for supplies not covered by their basic budgets. This is an increase from the $175 in grants distributed to teachers last year. The $200 grants will come from money raised by the 2005 Arts Jam, to be supplemented if needed by our general budget. A total of 81 teachers will be able to access these grants. The success of Arts Jam continues to build, and GRPS students are the beneficiaries.

Our next meeting will be Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Franklin Campus.

Arts Advocates Meeting - March 2, 2005
Principal Judy Freeman hosted the meeting at Sherwood Park Elementary School. Others attending were Loren Harper, Charley Honey, Pat Tergerson, David Wease, Alesia Albin, Ellen Runkel-Ford, Lucia Zapata, Nancy Mitchell, Mary McClees, and Karen Haight.

Percussion consultant Patrick Johnson led a demonstration of African and Brazilian drumming with elementary and middle school ensembles. The drumming project is tied into Sherwood's global studies theme and is funded through the Arts Council and Sebastian Foundation. The students put on an inspiring and spirited performance for us as well as many parents.

We discussed possible uses of Arts Jam funds in addition to the art and music teacher grants. Ideas included providing scholarships for music lessons, having college students come teach lessons, and scholarships for art, drama and music camps. These possibilities will be explored further by the Fine Arts Department. However, Alesia Albin said there has been no drop-off in teacher grant applications and that there continues to be a great need for supplemental supplies.

Karen Haight said Alesia's position as Fine Arts assistant should be protected from budget cuts, as she is an asset to the district and works so effectively with Julie Powell. Karen urged us to send emails to Superintendent Bert Bleke expressing our appreciation for Alesia's work.

Arts Advocates Meeting - February 2, 2005
GRPS Arts Advocates meeting attendees experienced Arts education first hand at the February 2nd gathering! The students of the ACE program (Arts, Communication and Entertainment) at Union High School entertained the group with several songs. The School of Arts, Communication and Entertainment's goal is to produce lifelong learners who respect and appreciate the role of the arts for individuals and the greater community.

  
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Arts Advocates Meeting Minutes - January 5, 2005
GRPS Arts Advocates met Jan. 5 at Burton Middle School, hosted by assistant principal Jesus Solis. Also present were Michele Miller-Hansen, Kathy Siegenthaler, Julie Powell, Tom Patton, Alesia Albin, Rick Brunson, Carolyn Morrison, John Hartel, David Smith, Loren Harper, Lucia Zapata, Charlie Pinneo, Obe Vandertol, Karen Haight and Charley Honey.

The majority of the meeting was spent going over plans for new art and music facilities with David Smith, director of facilities for Grand Rapids Public Schools. David shared designs for three new building projects currently under way: Alger, Henry and the combined Straight/Sibley school. These are among nine building projects planned in the next few years. They are the district's first new buildings since 1975.

David said the designs reflect the input of 35 people including Fine Arts Supervisor Julie Powell and art and music teachers. Designers also visited an award-winning middle school in St. Paul, Minn., and drew ideas from its music room.

The art and music rooms for the new schools will be designed so they can be used for other exploratory activities. At Alger, they will be located adjacent to a three-story cafeteria/performance area for easy access. Although there will be only one music room at the schools, other classrooms will accommodate music instruction if needed, David said.

Group members expressed concern that the art and music rooms might be big enough to house programs at their current levels, but not big enough if the programs grow as we hope they will. We don't want programs limited by the size of their facilities. It was also pointed out that athletics gets priority in new buildings by virtue of gym sizes and that arts should receive similar space considerations.

Art teacher Rick Brunson noted that attendance and achievement have gone up at ACE High as a result of students being more involved in the arts. Our next meeting was scheduled to be held at Union/Ace High on Feb. 2.
Arts Advocates Meeting Minutes - November 3, 2004
GRPS Arts Advocates met at C.A. Frost Elementary School, hosted by Principal Pamela Wells. Present were Julie Powell, Alesia Albin, Karen Haight, Chad Williams, Jennifer Wilson, Nona Marie Collver, Terry Johnston, Thomas Johnston, Jeri Blough, Paul Zarzecki, Charles Pinneo, Loren Harper, John Hartel, Charley Honey and Michele Miller-Hansen.

The group heard a fine performance from Jeri Blough's instrumental ensemble at C.A. Frost. Students played from sheet music Jeri was able to obtain thanks to an Arts Jam grant. Money put to good use!

Julie reported that Park Congregational Church will put on a fund-raiser, "Gumbo Gala," from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. The event will raise money for new music instruments for GRPS students. That same night there will be a Concert for Literacy held at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center to benefit the Student Advancement Foundation, our umbrella organization. Either show is a worthy cause for us to attend!

Chad Williams, education specialist for ACE High for fine arts, reported he is looking for guitar instructors for after-school lessons. Members of our group have provided contacts to Chad. He would welcome other suggestions at williamsc@grps.k12.mi.us.

Graphic artist Terry Johnston agreed to donate his time to design an Arts Advocates ad to be placed in the Grand Rapids Symphony program. The colorful, eye-catching ad will appear in symphony programs beginning in January. The group voted to spend $330 for the quarter-page ad.

The group discussed concerns of some music teachers that new GRPS buildings are being designed with inadequate art and music classrooms. We voted to send a letter raising our concerns to David Smith, GRPS facilities director, and Superintendent Bert Bleke. David will meet with the group Jan. 5 to address our concerns.
The group scheduled its next meeting for Jan. 5 at Burton Middle School.



Arts Advocates Meeting Minutes - October 6, 2004
GRPS Arts Advocates met Oct. 6 at Palmer Elementary School, hosted by music teacher Rita Pesano. Also present were Loren Harper, Nona Marie Collver, Julie Powell, John Hartel, Jesus Solis, Lisa Honeycutt, Carol Dodge, Karen Haight, Lucia Zapata, Jeri Blough, Paul Zarzecki, Charlie Pinneo, Ron Taylor and Charles Honey.

Julie and Charley brought the group up to date on preparations for Arts Jam 2005, to be held Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. at St. Cecilia Music Society. Confirmed acts include the Boogie Woogie Babies, Deb Perry and Majestic Praise, Susan Heartwell and Ralston Bowles. A salsa band and dance troupe also are being sought. Juliet Dragos, news anchor for WZZM-TV 13, has agreed to serve as host. Members of the Male Schubert Chorus once again have agreed to serve as ushers.

Julie said plans are under way to produce about 125 storyboards, the featured art form for this year's auction. Once again, students, teachers and professionals will be making the works to be displayed at St. Cecilia in conjunction with the concert. Jesus Solis suggested selling ads in the Arts Jam program to local businesses that support the schools. He said he will produce forms people can use to sign up businesses for the ads. We will also investigate placing ads in the GR Symphony program booklet.

Jesus reported Burton Middle School is actively involved with the arts this year, including a drama class and murals. The group approved mounting a second poster campaign promoting arts in the schools, along the lines of the first campaign that featured City High graduate Gillian Anderson. Former GRPS student Maria Kowroski, a member of the New York City Ballet, has offered to be featured in another poster. John Hartel is in contact with the Korowski family, and will work with Julie and Jesus on wording and design.

Julie informed us that Samona Bryant, the 2004 Creston High grad who needed assistance purchasing a bassoon, has gotten one for use at Western Michigan University. GRPS Arts Advocates donated $1,000 toward the purchase, using funds from our Benjamin DeVoe and David Wilkinson memorial funds. Thanks to contributions made in memory of these great music teachers and Advocates, Samona has a worthy instrument with which to pursue her music career. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, Nov. 3 at the Frost Environmental Science Academy.
Meeting Notes: September 8, 2004

Arts Advocates held their first meeting of the 2004-05 school year at Iroquois Middle School, hosted by music teacher Pat Tergerson. Others present were Loren Harper, Lois Eoge, Michele Miller-Hansen, Jeri Blough, Nona Marie Collver, Carolyn Morrison, Shirley Bolden, Lee Engstrom, Len Allman, Kathy Siegenthaler, Julie Powell, Karen Haight, John Hartel, Obe VanderTol, Amber Haywood, Charles Pinneo, Paul Zarzecki, Katie Ross, Pat Ross-Gatz and Charley Honey.

We were delighted to host Iroquois parents Shirley Bolden and her daughter Kelsey, and Pat Ross-Gatz and her daughter Katie, a member of the St. Cecilia Youth Concert Orchestra, played a Bach minuet on the cello.

Fine Arts Supervisor Julie Powell said music and art teachers have been informed of available grants of up to $175 raised from Arts Jam 2004. Approximately $7,000 in grants was disbursed to teachers in the 2003-04 school year from Arts Jam 2003.

Arts Jam 2005 will be held Sunday, Feb. 20 at St. Cecilia Music Society. Confirmed performers include Susan Heartwell, vocalist; the Boogie Woogie Babies, a trio performing classic pop and jazz standards; and Debra Perry and Majestic Praise, a gospel choir. WZZM-TV 13 news anchor Juliet Dragos has generously agreed to host. The planning committee is working on additional acts. The art form to be featured will be storyboards, art works on wood that depict stories.

Members discussed ways to attract more parents to Arts Advocates, a top priority for the group. Parent Shirley Bolton suggested staging student performances that would attract parents. The group discussed the idea of a student showcase separate from Arts Jam and agreed to explore it further.

We decided to post our meeting schedule in Highlights, the district-wide newsletter, and will try to have brief student performances at our meetings. Nona Marie-Collver proposed an "American Idol"-style event featuring teen performers, to be held at Noto's restaurant with proceeds going to GRPS. No action was taken.


Arts Advocates continues to look for parents willing to get involved.
If you are interested, please contact Julie at 771-2156 or Arts Advocates secretary Charley Honey at 453-0944.