Paricipation in BOCES Cultural Arts Center for Wheatley High School

To: East Williston School Board


We believe the E.W.S.D. Board of Education should allow students of Wheatley High School the opportunity to participate in the BOCES Cultural Arts Program. We believe that this program is invaluable because it provides students interested in cultural arts, such as dance, drama, music, theatre and related technical fields, with an opportunity to learn from professional faculty members active in their areas of expertise. Given that there are over 60 school districts which participate in this program,(including Roslyn, Jericho,Great Neck, Port Washington, and Glen Cove) and that East Willistons school taxes are some of the highest in the country, we believe that our students deserve the same opportunities as our neighboring districts. Wheatley currentley does not offer any classes in dance and theater, and for a student dedicated to music or the visual arts, the course selection is very limited. For a school district that states its dedication to the arts in its founding Mission Statement, the lack of the arts is an embarrasement. Please re-consider Wheatleys participation in the program, so that we can be honest when we say we are a school dedicated to the arts.