by Patricia Frischer
I was invited to attend a community organization information meeting by the Visual and Performing Arts Department (VAPA) for San Diego Unified School District this month and found out several interesting things from the director Russ Sperling and program manager Tim Benson.
A year is a long time during a pandemic and last year was
declared the Freedom
Summer to focus on eliminating those barriers that prevent our students
of color from receiving an equitable education. One great result was the
delivery of 60,000 devices to aid online studies for every student in need. Communication
within the organization was strengthened and VAPA liaison were created for
schools in the system. In fact, the district art show with be online this year
and we are looking forward to seeing that listed on SDVAN. Up until now, it was
only easily available to view on the opening night.
There is a big concentration on Title One schools with the
goal expanded from higher
student achievement to include increased student and family engagement and
a positive school climate. The pandemic and online learning has made it more
important than ever to remove non-standard criteria like attendance and
deportment when assessing students.
This is a new strategic
plan underway to be announced soon for 2021-2026. It was good to hear that San
Diego’s creative community is a large collective resource with greater
potential to augment the District’s VAPA program. A Gap
Analysis has been started to try to see what schools and programs are
falling through the cracks. But so far that does not include organizations
outside of the schools that supply arts programs. Yes, there is a whole system
of substitute teachers and art teachers which are hired to teach the arts, but
many programs that works with schools are not yet documented like the Art Reach
mural projects and ArtBusXpress
virtual programs.
One challenge to these community organizations is the need
to create contracts which adhere to the strict school district requirements.
VAPA can step in and help organizations that are ready to present their
Superpowered ideas for proven programs. Blanca Lucia Bergman from Arts Unites has been
teaching youngster how to present their art in exhibitions with lesson than
include math, marketing and communication skills. That is a superpower that most adult artists would like to have.
VAPA foresees the need for 80 arts teachers to be hired
when schools come back full strength for in person teaching. The Arts
Education Project (AEP), is hiring for the fall of 2021 and the online
application is now open Apply at Arts
Education Project Application. The minimum credential required for this
position is a California 30
Day Substitute Teaching Permit.
