HARROGATE, Tenn. — After hearing that Claiborne County is planning to cut music out of the curriculum for the 09-10 school year in order to save money, one parent of a Cumberland Gap High School student said she is ready to take drastic measures to get her daughter in a music program.

“If we don’t get music put back... she’ll have to go Thomas Walker High School where band is really supported,” said Melesia Johnston, whose 13-year-old daughter Erin is starting Cumberland Gap High School next school year. The move would require Melesia to pay out-of-state fees and plan her work schedule around getting Erin to the high school in Ewing, Va.

Melesia said that Erin had been in marching band since the 6th grade and could read music and play by ear. She said her daughter dramatically improved in math and science after getting involved in music. She now practices her flute and piccolo regularly so she could eventually try out for drum major.

“She was going to major in music in college, play in the orchestra, and be a teacher. That’s what her dream has been,” said Melesia. Without proper music training high school, Erin would be unqualified for music scholarships she was counting on to pay for college.

The situation really hit home when Erin went to make her four year high school plan recently. She had to make a schedule without band.

“She was devastated,” said Melesia, who lives in the Shawanee community. “It’s going to cheat a lot of these kids out of their future.”

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