Preserve Ballard Performing Arts

YOU DID IT! Our goal has been achieved with the help of the BPA community!

Thank you for your generosity and support for BPA.

Due to a perfect storm of circumstances, we need your help to raise $30,000. to preserve the Ballard Performing Arts programs at BHS.

This is a real issue in the coming year due to Seattle Public Schools budget shortfalls, the levy cap, and the McCleary ruling. Ballard will also be facing a reduction in staff partially due to the opening of another high school.

Ballard High School Music & Theatre Department is lauded throughout the Northwest and beyond for its high level of musical and performance excellence. Ballard provides one of the most complete high school music programs in Seattle. Our program has grown to over 450 students in 15 groups/ensembles. This includes six in voice instruction, five in band groups, three in string instruments and a robust theatre community.

What would you choose to cut?

BHS principal, Mr. Wynkoop proactively met the BPA directors, the BPA boosters, BHS PTSA, and BHS Foundation to create a plan to invest in our 3 music directors to keep the BPA programs intact. After generous donations from BHS PTSA and the BHS Foundation, the BPA community has been asked to fund a ONE TIME request of $30,000.

If you have a student who has benefited from the BHS Performing Arts program currently or in years past, NOW is the time to show your support. If you know of a current or former student in the program, have ever been to one of our school concerts or musicals, or have attended such community building performances as the Winter Concert Masterwork or the Spaghetti Dinner, please consider donating. These special and aspiring performances would not be possible without the talents and dedication of our directors to the Ballard Performing Arts program.

Any amount is appreciated to reach our goal. Your help with spreading the word through social media is equally important; please use the sharing links above.

Please help us reach our goal of $30,000 to preserve and support the excellent Music education that our students have all benefited from. Your donations are tax-deductible.

For more about Ballard Performing Arts, please visit our website at www.ballardperformingarts.org Questions: ballardperformingarts@gmail.com

Our Mission Statement:

The Ballard High School Performing Arts Booster Club is a nonprofit organization of parents, guardians, and community members committed to maintaining and cultivating a tradition of excellence in the band, choir, orchestra, and theatre programs at Ballard High School. In partnership with the directors, we work to provide high-quality education and performance opportunities for all students. We provide fundraising and volunteer support and encourage family engagement in the performing arts community.

All funds raised will go directly to the Ballard High School budget to cover gaps in the director's salaries.

Why a one-time ask? From principal Wynkoop:

Due to the combination of the loss of enrollment to Lincoln opening and the budget deficit created by the state funding shortage, I expect this to be the worst budget year that we face. We will continue to face some cuts in the next two years, but they will be much smaller than this year.

This will mean that we have a much better chance of avoiding cuts to the performing arts, whereas this year the cuts were across the board to all departments. It is not a certainty that we will avoid having to consider a small cut, but we will be in an improved situation to avoid it. Also, I will tell the Budget Committee that it is not an option to go back to the BPA Board. This is a one-time solution.

Thank you for your consideration and support!