Durango High School choir parents are outraged after program suddenly shuts down
LAS VEGAS (KLLAS) — Parents of students in Durango High School’s choir are outraged after they say the program will no longer exist for the upcoming school year.
Some parents told 8 News Now their kids use choir as an outlet to truly embrace who they are. They hope their frustrations translate to the school district, to keep the program going.
“It’s my child you know so, anything for her,” an emotional Christina Schuchard said.
She met with 8 News Now outside Durango High School during her daughter, Isabella’s choir performance. This one hit a different note.
“She’s debating whether to stay here, at the high school,” Schuchard said. “They found out that they no longer are going to have a choir.”
She said it was her daughter’s last performance, but not by choice. Now, one big family is about to be torn apart.
“The arts, we lose it which is sad, we live in Vegas, it’s full of entertainment,” she said.
Two other parents also showing up for their kids.
“I’m scared he’s going to isolate himself, it’s something he really looked forward to,” Desira Robles said. Robles is Joshua Gonzalez’s mother and she said her son is on the spectrum.
“He specifically chose to go to Durango because of his friends,” she said.
Nyeba Davis’ daughter, Dimara, is also one of the students affected by the end of the program.
“Music is part of life we need it, if they get mad, they can sing it to us, okay!” Davis said.
When 8 News Now reached out to the school district about the choir program. The district provided this statement:
“Durango High School plans to continue offering choir on campus as a class or club. During the current school year, Durango High School administrators and staff worked to increase interest in the choir program. To date, only 40 students have expressed interest in choir for the 2024-2025 school year. Due to this low enrollment, the administration consulted with the School Organizational Team and determined there was not enough interest in choir to support a full-time choir teacher in the school’s budget. The school is working with other instructors in the performing arts department to identify staff to support a choir course offering. The administration is also evaluating options to incorporate current choir students into other performing arts programs, such as band, orchestra, theatre and jazz.”
This is something these mothers told 8 News Now they had no clue about.
“It’s a big school, we can fill up the classes, we can keep the choir going,” Robles said.
“Someone has to stand up and if you can’t I’ll try,” said Schuchard.
All the mothers watched their kids sing one last time, hoping the group still has a chance to stay together.
As of this year, 70 students were enrolled in the choir program. The parents said they have reached out to the school district to keep the program, but are still waiting to hear back.
The families also said they are willing to fundraise and help recruit more students to keep the program.
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