TAZEWELL, Tenn. — Because of the recession, cutbacks in public schools across the country have compromised a lot of what many students have taken for granted, like after-school activities and programs. Fortunately, in Claiborne, Bell, and Lee Counties, schools have not made many critical cutbacks in planning their next budgets; that is, until now. At the last Claiborne County Board of Education meeting, the school board and administrators announced the decision to ax all music programs — including high school band, chorus, music theory, and all elementary and middle school music instruction — from all of its schools for the 09-10 school year.

Linda Smiddy, music teacher at Cumberland Gap High School, said the school board’s decision to cut the music program happened without any advance warning to students, teachers, or band boosters.

“They met, did it, and within five minutes it was gone,” said Smiddy, who teaches all of the music classes at Cumberland Gap High School. She said it was done at the April 9 school board meeting.

“We weren’t there to defend ourselves,” said Smiddy.

Claiborne County School System Administrators are defending their actions.

“We regret these cuts,” said Director of Claiborne County Schools Eddie Shoffner regarding cuts in the 09-10 school year budget. “School needs to be fun, and art and music makes it fun... [But] we did not have enough people to sign up for band at either school (Cumberland Gap High School or Claiborne High School). We’re going to start all over. We’re interested in seeing if we can find funding. This is not something we’re saying is over forever.”

In a letter-to-the-editor by band member parent Debbie Clayton, she explained that after Claiborne High School’s long-time band leader, Matt Cowan, left and was replaced with a temporary fill-in until a more qualified director could take over, most of the students got discouraged and ultimately quit the program. Shoffner said that, when he asked both high school’s principals what could be cut to save the school system money, they all agreed on cutting the music program.

Both Shoffner and the Assistant to the Director Trent Williams said there was a lot of discussion and that it was a hard decision. Shoffner said that it’s possible a limited, after-school music program could be created for high school students. But that program could never sufficiently replace a school-sponsored curriculum.

As of right now, music is gone from the 09-10 budget. Many parents and members of the community feel that this cut is a critical setback for their school system and, most importantly, their children.

Smiddy said that this decision further eliminates after-school activities for students not involved in sports.

“I think that, here, we have hardly anything for kids, unless you’re an athlete,” said Smiddy. “Kids who are not athletic have nothing to do...”

She said that the effects of this decision will be felt throughout the community.

“Who’s going to march in our parades?” she added.

Likewise, she said that Lincoln Memorial University would be greatly affected by this decision. They’ve recently started a music program at the college and to some degree, rely on Claiborne County schools to prepare students to pursue a specialized degree in music.

While Shoffner said he’s only had a few phone calls regarding the matter, Smiddy said she now has over 1,000 signatures on a petition to get music back in the school system. That petition will be presented at Thursday’s Board of Education meeting at Clairfield Elementary School at 7 p.m.

Shoffner said that with immense cutbacks in state funding, he wasn’t even sure the cuts to the 09-10 budget were over with.

“We don’t know, as of right now, how many programs we have to cut,” said Shoffner. “Nothing is in stone yet concerning the budget.”

He said there is a possibility that stimulus funding, or money from grants, could alleviate the budget crunch and allow the school system to reinstate the music program.

Smiddy, who may be out of a job next school year, thinks the cutbacks reflect the priorities of the school system.

“It’s just been an uphill battle,” said Smiddy. “I get very little cooperation at schools. The kid are quality kids. We have scores to back us up. We’re very successful.”

She said that now Claiborne County stands alone because they are without a music program.

“We are surrounded with counties that have (music programs),” said Smiddy. She also felt the school system should have given the community advanced notice to discuss the cutbacks and other avenues of funding that could be made available.

“We should have been given a voice and not been blind sided like we were,” she said.

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com