Claiborne Co. students, teacher fight loss of music program

Claiborne Co. students, teacher fight loss of music program

By WHITNEY HOLMES
6 News Anchor/Reporter

TAZEWELL (WATE) -- Under budget constraints, the Claiborne County Board of Education voted to cut the music program in all schools next year. The move eliminated music classes, chorus and band.

"It was a unanimous vote that music was gone in about five minutes in Claiborne County," says Cumberland Gap High School band director Linda Smiddy. "We were blind sided."

School officials say the axe fell on music because it affected the smallest number of students.

"I would have been one of the kids that was a nobody. There are only so many spots on the cheerleading squad or dance," says band student Erica Morse.

Claiborne County High School and Cumberland Gap High School both have band and music programs.

Smiddy has been the Cumberland Gap band director for more than a decade.

"It's abolished. That means there is no position here for band, if that carries through, and we can't get anything to change."

The community will particularly notice the music program's absence at high school football games. No fight songs will be played and no half time shows will be performed.

Smiddy says right now, her students are trying to figure out how to keep music in their lives. "Some have said they are going to transfer to different schools so they can continue music education."

Smiddy is leading the battle of the band with a petition signed by 1,200 people who want to keep the program. She has presented the petition to the board.

School officials say they'd like to find other options but for now, there won't be a music program in Claiborne County schools.