School Music Supporters Reach for Hearts, Wallets

The school district's ability to continue offering a fifth-grade music program next year likely will depend on dollars generated by the Livermore Valley Education Foundation.

Toward that end, the foundation will present an arts and music showcase Thursday featuring the works of students.

It will be the group's largest fund raiser this year, with proceeds going to the district's arts education programs for the 2011-2012 school year. Officials hope to raise $100,000.

LVEF President Vicki Schellenberger said in addition to raising funds, the evening is intended to “raise awareness of the important and essential role that the arts play in our childrenʼs lives and in our community at large."

"Year after year, we are always concerned that arts-education programs are among the most underfunded of programs in the state of California despite being one of the core elements of a well-rounded education," she said in a statement. "We are excited to highlight the accomplishments of LVJUSD students and staff while also providing an avenue of funding support that enables people and businesses throughout our community to make a positive impact on Livermore studentsʼ education.”

This year, the foundation gave the district $90,000-plus for music education. The money went toward an elementary school music program and made music education available to all fifth-graders, officials said.

But that may change next year.

School board members faced with a shrinking budget, earlier this month decided to send a layoff notice to the educator running the elementary music programs.

Foundation officials hope to keep that pink slip what it is now — just a notice.

However, the money the foundation has donated to the district to keep music programs intact was raised over a two-year period.

Officials are optimistic they can meet this year's goal in less time.

"I'm feeling very positive by the support we're receiving, not only from the community at large, but also from the schools and PTAs who are joining together for the first time to focus on districtwide program support," said Genevieve Getman-Sowa, a member of the foundation's board of directors. "These are hard times for all of us who care about education, students and teachers in Livermore and it's heartening to see this community rally together to make an immediate difference in the lives of our kids and teens."

Thursday's program starts at 7 p.m. and will be held at the in downtown Livermore.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.livermoreperformingarts.org, by calling 925-373-6800 or in person at the  box office at 2400 First St. Tickets are $25, $12.50 per student with the purchase of a full-price ticket.

For more information, contact the LVEF at livermorevalleyedfound@gmail.com. To make a tax-deductible donation to the foundation, click here or visit www.lvef.org.