Public Education Appropriations Committee Notes: 2.14.14

Summary:

The POPS Outreach program was discussed. This program is quite old and allows Utah Symphony, Utah Opera, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre, Children's Dance Theatre, Ballet West, Springville Museum of Art, Utah Festival Opera, and Utah Shakespeare Festival to visit EVERY school district in the state once every three years.

This year the POPS groups are asking for two things:

1. reinstatement of the RFP program at $150,000 for other orgs to join via application process 
2. increase of $500,000 in ongoing funding for existing pops organizations to develop and expand existing pops programs. 

Detailed notes:

Fine Arts Budget brief: http://le.utah.gov/interim/2013/pdf/00001054.pdf

Science Outreach Budget brief (from the meeting on Tuesday): http://le.utah.gov/interim/2013/pdf/00000953.pdf

POPS Outreach -- funds received by each org from the state (the statute requires a 1:1 match, most match state funds close to 2:1)

Utah Symphony: $929,400

Utah Opera:287,500

Ririe‐Woodbury Dance Company: 158,200

Repertory Dance Theatre 159,800

Children's Dance Theatre 174,000

Ballet West 487,500

Springville Museum of Art 200,100

Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre 243,500

Utah Shakespeare Festival 286,400

Utah Museum of Arts Subsidy

ARTS Inc. $49,900

Subtotal $49,900

ProgramTotal $3,075,000 of Fine Arts 98,700

Subtotal $3,025,100

The FY 2013 appropriation for Fine Arts Education Outreach programs totals $3,075,000, which is

$75,000 higher than the FY 2012 budget.

Question was asked, what is pops? consortium of 10 professional arts organizations; partnership with Utah State Office of education providing critical arts learning experiences to Utah’s students and teachers; enhancement of student learning and teacher effectiveness through innovative and interactive arts education programs

Presenting at table on behalf of POPS: Brent Hammond, Jessica Weisz, Hillary Hahn (USUO)

Brent recognized Shirley Ririe of RWDC, then asked all the arts groups to stand

Hillary thanks legislators for decades of support, answered question of where the matching funds come from

• POPS served 459,458 students and 23,777.
• Pops organized contributed 63% of education funds so they more than matched the legislature’s funds. 
• pops services: study guides/sample lessons plans; pre and post activity materials; workshops/lecture demonstrations; professional development opportunities; large capacity performances and presentations; assembly performances; smaller in-class presentations; in-depth experiences; community collaborations; residency opportunities

Two main funding requests: reinstatement of the RFP program at $150,000 for other orgs to join via application process | increase of $500,000 in ongoing funding for existing pops organizations to develop and expand existing pops programs. 

Question asked of varying cost per student for the arts orgs: Answer from Brett, some of the organizations bring more staff to the teaching event than others (i.e. symphony is 90 people, RWDC is 9 dancers), together we all support the arts, and we’re not concerned with it not being equally funded per organization.

Rep. Moss said she hears the most from her constituents when they’re afraid that their arts programs are getting cut. They love it. She reiterated: Don’t cut the arts!

Sen. Jones identified her conflict of interest as a board member of Utah Symphony. Talked about how the integration of the arts and such in education helps students’ brain development. Sen. Jones also said that she also receives a lot of emails from moms saying how they don’t want their arts programs cut. 

Question asked about rural, charter, private, parochial, and homeschoolers, are they served by POPS? answer is that every three years every school is visited in the state by at least one of the 10 organizations. A. on charter or private, our understanding is that our directive is to be focused on public schools although we certainly invite homeschool students if they want to attend. 

Committee chair: without this professional arts outreach to our students, without we’re sort of barbarians. Our children need it.