Concerned residents of Eastend and Consul attended the Chinook School Division Board meeting yesterday, asking the board to reconsider a decision that prohibits out-of-curriculum music lessons from being taught during school hours.

     Scott Morvik, Mayor of Eastend, says the program had been working well.  He says they had already been providing music education that was paid for by parents rather than taxpayers.  He says, while it was done on school time, it was working well, but the Board has now decided that practice will stop.

     Dave Dornstauder, Deputy Director of Education, says no one is opposed to music being taught, but they are obligated to teach the curriculum, which includes a 4-strand fine arts program.  Going beyond that is not within their mandate; however, they would make every reasonable effort to allow the classes to happen in the school, but at a time outside of instructional time.

     The Board has agreed to consider the request and the residents say they will wait for the decision before taking further steps.