Editor:
I write this letter out of great concern for the School Board’s decision not to renew a full-time art program at Encampment School following Mrs. Kraft’s retirement this year. As a graduate of Encampment School and a Fine Arts Major at Michigan State University, I am deeply troubled by this decision. The primary art education that I received has been critical to my success in numerous professions, including architectural lighting, freelance graphic design and restaurant management. Beyond my personal feelings, numerous studies have concluded that having an art program in our schools promotes overall academic performance, increases student test scores, can help troubled students and decrease truancy, provides an outlet for community involvement and contributes to student goal-setting and creative problem solving. The decision of the School Board to deny students at Encampment School the opportunity to have a well-rounded education is especially disappointing, considering that under Mrs. Kraft’s direction, the Encampment K-12 art program is widely recognized as one of the most successful in the state and nation. Her diligence in grant-writing and in establishing this reputable program will now be wasted with the decision to remove full-time art from the curriculum. As a community, we need to emphasize the strengths of our schools, not erase them. Please urge the School Board to reconsider its decision. The impact of its choice is critical. Thank you.
Cassie Orduno
Owner, Bella’s Bistro/Ciao Bella Design
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