Fund Bands in the Buffalo Schools

We are all adult members of amateur bands in Buffalo, New York area. We started playing musical instruments as children or high school students. As teens, and now as adults, we know that playing together in bands have enriched our lives beyond measure.
Recently, It has come to the public’s attention that the Buffalo Schools do not support instrumental music, including band programs whatsoever! They literally have no budget devoted to elementary or high school bands! Only two high schools even have a band, and no class time is allowed for them to rehearse! And the Buffalo schools do not meet the New York State-mandated funding requirements for the Arts and Music. Students are awarded credits for these courses without attending any classes!
This is in contrast to the enriched and exciting instrumental music programs supported in Buffalo’s suburbs. All of this is in a climate in the city of Buffalo where attendance and graduation rates are constant challenges. We believe that Instrumental Music programs – just like sports (which also are poorly supported in Buffalo schools) – are powerful forces for keeping students motivated to stay in school and pursue their other studies. We demand that the Buffalo Schools include and fund instrumental music education and high school bands throughout the City.