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Local resident Nicole Guida made a presentation Monday, May 5, advising the Park Rapids School Board against making cuts to the schools’ music programs.
Guida quoted Nikola Tesla as saying, “If you want to know the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”
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She also cited Masaur Emoto’s book, “The True Power of Water,” which claims that water changes its physical shape in response to sound, and concluded that as human bodies are 70%-80% water, sound can create physical healing. She called music “sacred geometry.”
“We need to enlarge, not cut, our music programs,” she said. “To cut band and choir is a tragedy. Music is a foreign language that creates a healing effect. Music should be a part of our daily lives. As old truths are revealed, we learn how the healing of the heart, mind and soul takes place through the sound of music.”
Guida said the Minnesota Department of Education report card shows 75% of Park Rapids students fail math, and more than half fail reading. “Math, science, and reading are failures,” she said, while music “provides a class students can succeed in.
“Why would you vote to cut something that is working? You do not represent the voice of the majority when you decide to cut a program that needs to grow and be encouraged.”
Guida noted that band teacher John Cook serves both the high school and the middle school. She suggested there should be a full-time band teacher at each school as well as full-time choir teachers at both schools.
Guida urged the school board to make the budgeting process more transparent. “We need more singing and more musical instruments,” she said.
Later, Superintendent Lance Bagstad said the district reduced its K-12 music programs from four full-time equivalents (FTE) to 3.5 FTE for the upcoming school year, including the retirement of elementary music teacher Kirsten Edevold.
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“That allowed us to re-look at how we offer (music),” he said, “and it works out that it was a 0.5 FTE reduction.”
In consent items and general business, the school board:
The school board’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, May 19 in the school board room at the high school.
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