Monday Notes

Happy Monday and here is to a great week. As we approach the end of the year, please take a few minutes and review the important information below.

Hello,

We hope this email finds you well as the semester draws to a close. We write to bring to your attention a pressing matter concerning the funding of the Fine Arts Education Act (FAEA), which poses a potential threat to elementary arts funding across our state. As you might know, the FAEA is a multi-million dollar act that provides funding to districts for Fine Arts teaching positions, professional development, supplies, and equipment for grades K–6.

We urge you to reach out to your elected representatives to voice your concerns regarding this issue. Below, we've provided a sample email template for your convenience, ensuring that key points are addressed. Please tailor this and write it in your own voice for variety.

Please send your correspondence to every member of the LESC (link provided below) and to your own elected representatives and senators. We realize this may take some time, but your voice is crucial if we are to avoid the potential harmful consequences of this proposal.

• LESC Members

• How to find my elected state official

Thanks.

__________________________________________

Sample Email - Please rephrase in your own voice.

Dear [Recipient's Name],

I hope this message finds you well as we transition into the summer season. First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude for your dedicated service to the people of New Mexico, particularly in advocating for our state's students. As an educator myself, I firmly believe that the key to our state's future lies in the education and empowerment of our youth.

I am writing to bring to your attention a matter of significant concern regarding potential changes to the allocation of funds under the Fine Arts Education Act (FAEA). It has come to my attention that there is a proposal being considered within the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) that could have adverse effects on elementary arts funding statewide.

I urge you to advocate for the preservation of Fine Arts as a program unit under the FAEA, accompanied by the necessary assurances to safeguard its continuity. Access to arts education is not only integral to a well-rounded education but is also recognized as a core subject crucial for the holistic development of students.

Rather than eliminating the FAEA, I propose strengthening its accountability measures to ensure that designated funds are indeed being utilized for Fine Arts programs as intended. By doing so, we can ensure that our students continue to benefit from the enriching experiences offered through arts education.

I understand the weight of the decisions you face, but I implore you to prioritize the preservation and enhancement of the FAEA. Our young learners deserve nothing less than access to quality arts education, and I believe your advocacy can make a meaningful difference in securing their educational opportunities.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

This week's advocacy challenge:

• Touch base with custodians and administration about summer schedule.
  

NMMEA is excited to announce a new event scheduled for the summer of 2024. Mark your calendars for June 26th and 27th, as we present the inaugural Virtual MPA Band Adjudicator Symposium. Our aim is to expand the roster of adjudicators and equip them with enhanced tools to foster the development of ensembles. The symposium will run from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, punctuated by a lunch break. Ahead of the event, attendees will receive MPA recordings for review and scoring. During the symposium, participants will engage in score comparisons, delve into the rationale behind scoring decisions, glean insights on crafting stellar adjudicator recordings, and gain access to a plethora of resources essential for effective MPA adjudication. Completion of the symposium will prompt the sharing of participant names with districts, thereby increasing the size of our adjudication pool.

Our strategy involves piloting this program exclusively for band adjudicators this summer, with plans to extend the symposium to choir, guitar, and orchestra in the summer of 2025. To this end, if you're a choir, guitar, or orchestra director interested in being a part of the planning committee, please inform Neil Swapp.

• Click here to register

Time is running out to register for the Summer Music Educators Workshop. If you plan on attending, please register this week so that the planning committee can finalize plans.

• Register here

See you on July 13th at Rio Rancho High School!

During the first week of June, NMMEA will be doing an update to the website which will require members to create a new password in order to access member only pages. Login will still be linked to your NAfME membership, however you will no longer login via the NAfME website. In order to make this a smooth transition, please make sure that your NAfME credentials are up to date.