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VIDEO: Students rally to save music amid Greater Victoria budget cuts

Oak Bay was one of several planned elementary school protests over proposed cuts

Students filled the Cadboro Bay Road sidewalks on Friday afternoon in protest of potential music cuts.

Parents, teachers and students learned in early April that SD61 needed to cut $7 million from its budget and, to do so, proposed eliminating music programs and cutting supports for elementary and middle school students requiring alternative education plans.

RELATED: SD61 students not taking potential music program cuts silently

The Willows elementary Grade 5 students participate in the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) district strings program and were inspired to rally against the proposed budget cuts that would affect music programs across the district.

Oaklands, Campus View, Marigold and Doncaster elementary students, who also participate in the strings program, also rallied outside their schools, with Margaret Jenkins postponing student action there because of a recent COVID-19 exposure.

RELATED: SD61’s proposed $7 million cuts threaten equity and inclusion, say parents, teachers


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