The Bend-La Pine School District attempted to correct the record after a false rumor circulated on social media a few weeks ago, claiming that Mountain View High School’s theater program may be eliminated the following 2024-2025 school year.

With the beginning of spring, Bend-La Pine Schools has started staffing and class plans—which take into account student expressed interest and forecasted electives. Students and teachers alike were taken aback by an inaccurate social media post claiming that Bend-La Pine theater programs may be cut.

“Schools are working on their staffing plans for next year, as they do every spring. For our high schools, these plans are based in part on student forecasting and expressed interest in elective classes,” said Bend-La Pine Schools Communications Director Scott Maben.

While there may be reductions to Mountain View’s theater classes, or any Bend-La Pine Schools classes for that matter, there are no plans for them to be eliminated.

“There was preliminary discussion of needing to reduce the number of theater classes to three (from four) next year at Mountain View, due to the numbers of students who indicated interest in taking those classes,” said Maben.

Principals of each school must make cuts or additions to classes each and every year and as a result classes may be expanded or reduced. As of now no final decisions have been made and if the Learning Levy passes in May the district will also re-evaluate all planned cuts for the 2024-2025 school year.

Despite arts programs being a vital contributor to students’ success at school by allowing them to reduce stress, develop social-emotional and interpersonal skills, accept constructive criticism and improve focus the programs often fall victim to budget cuts. Even though Bend-La Pine’s theater departments seem to be secure, the social media scare is an important reminder to advocate for performance arts, especially in high-schools.