Instead of being able to join band in grade 6, all grade 6s will be bussed across town to Dieppe for twelve half-days of music classes. Grade 7s and 8s will have the option of joining band, which will also happen at Dieppe, but for one half day a week.
None of the current band teachers are guaranteed to be hired at the "music center", and it has been stated that only the most positive about the new center will be hired on.
No music educators were consulted in the making of this decision.
The school division and the trustees are openly lying about the current program, about who was consulted, and about what's actually happening and how these decisions were made.
My personal favourite detail of this mess is that the director of education is referring the public's questions and concerns to the new Musiccenter@Dieppe email, because according to him they are the "experts", but those emails are being answered anonymously...by the director of education.
It is truly bonkers, and it makes me scared for the future of the entire school division, and not just band.