Local Students rally against Art and Music Cuts

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Local students, parents, educators and members of a group called Youthclusive took part in a "Rally for the Arts" outside the Santa Barbara Unified School Board meeting on Wednesday.

Santa Barbara High School English teacher Robert Nava said he was one of the teachers who recently received a Reduction In Force notice known as an RIF.

"I recently received, reduction in force notice. And so that means that I may be let go, but it's still up in the air," said Nava.

Nava's students held signs asking the board to save his job.

But Nava isn't hopeful. This is his first year teaching and he believes the last hired are the first to go.

"You love what you do, but you also know that there's that possibility that you might not be able to come back, "said Nava.

Many of the young musicians played their instruments along Santa Barbara Street.

Some people driving by beeped their horns.

This isn't the first time they have rallied outside the regular meeting and may not be the last.

Cuts to music-related education were not on the board's agenda, but rally participants, including San Marco High School student Naomi Jane Voigt, spoke during public comments.

The Teen Star award winner said she is speaking on behalf of the elementary and middle schools too.

Voigt helped organize the protest – she and her mother Michele Voigt spoke to the board during public comments.

"This is no way treat our teachers. These programs are a priority to our district and to our community, and we are not stopping," said Michele Voigt.

Amber Coltrin said she was too late to sign up to speak.

She said she had rushed to the meeting from San Marcos High School's spring musical Urinetown rehearsal.

"Without vocal music, I feel like there would be a lot more mental health issues like depression," said Coltrin.

Coltrin said the creative arts has helped her and many of her classmates deal with mental health issues.

Santa Barbara High School is in rehearsal for Hadestown.

The cast stood in front of the school board with music playing from their spring musical, but they did not sing.

Margo Carmean, who plays Orpheus, in the musical hopes their silent protest sends a message.

"For the longest time when I've been doing arts classes, it felt like I've had to fight for them to exist and all the sports teams and other programs at school get a lot of funding," said Carmean.

SBHS Theater Director Gioia Marchese hopes the district can make cuts elsewhere.

"What students need more than anything is to reconnect with their humanity," said Marchese. 

Santa Barbara Junior High Teacher Rich Lushua told the board he was named the 2025 Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.

Lushua said he worries cuts to programs will prevent students from continuing their arts education as they move from elementary school to junior high and then to high school.

Some student singers and musicians would like administrative costs to be cut in order to keep music related education staffed.

But a district handout said "Santa Barbara Unified School Distict is facing difficult financial realities, with a $9.65 million budget reduction this year and an anticipated $4 million shortfall next year unless revenues and expenditures change."

District officials have said they are mandated to hand out RIF notices by March 15 with final decisions announced by May 15th.

Even so, the district stands by their "Every child, Every chance, Every day" mission statement.