Seminole County Schools budget cuts hit Lawton Chiles band program

Michaelle Jimenez is an Oviedo realtor and a mom, and knows the draw of Seminole County Public Schools and its band programs. She’s worried about how SCPS budget cuts will impact the band program at Lawton Chiles Middle School. 

Jimenez has one son who will enter Lawton Chiles next year and is planning to enroll in band, and she also has a Hagerty High School sophomore who participated in band all through middle school.  

Because of budget cuts, Lawton Chiles Middle School will lose one band director, and only have one teacher for 360 students. One advanced band class is being eliminated, and some students won’t be allowed to learn a second instrument to limit enrollment.

“Do not cut the programs that keep our kids engaged with the schools,” Jimenez said. “We (are) already living in a world that has so [many] screens. Everything is so instant for every kid. Playing and learning how to play an instrument comes with patience, effort, more things. Don’t cut that.”

And that worry is doubled because Jimenez is a realtor and has seen firsthand the draw Seminole County Public Schools has on the real estate market. She recently had a client moving from Arizona to Florida specifically telling her Winter Springs was OK, but they really wanted to get a house in Oviedo because of the schools. 

“It’s sad to think (of) the things we’re losing,” Jimenez said. “It’s why people move to Seminole County and Oviedo. It’s very sought-after to be here. People want to be here for the schools.”

Seminole County Public Schools says it’s not capping enrollment in LCMS band

Jimenez is one of multiple parents interviewed by Oviedo Community News concerned about planned cuts to Lawton Chiles Middle School’s award-winning band program. Multiple parents reached out to the newsroom concerned about the program. 

Seminole County Public Schools said enrollment drops are causing massive budget cuts for the next year. 

The district is facing a $26.4 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year in part because of a projected 2,000 student drop in enrollment, as more students use state vouchers for private school, immigration enforcement chills attendance and birth rates decline. Seminole County Public Schools has cut more than 300 teachers, staff and district employees to deal with a looming budget shortfall, and as of last month still had an annual recurring shortfall to handle. When asked for specific budget numbers for Lawton Chiles, Seminole County Public Schools Spokeswoman Katherine Crnkovich said she did not have that information, and did not provide it after a followup request. 

The district sets budgets for each individual school, and then principals have to manage their budget. At Lawton Chiles Middle School, it means that Brittni Autrey, the Associate Director of Bands at Lawton Chiles Middle School, has not been renewed to come back for the 2026-’27 school year. 

That leaves one band director for the school, which had 360 students in band 6th, 7th and 8th grade last school year. 

“The Lawton Chiles Middle School Band program will continue next school year,” wrote Principal Melissa Laudani in a message to parents. “While staffing allocations have resulted in a reduction in the number of band teachers, we remain fully committed to ensuring that our students have access to a comprehensive and high-quality band experience.”

Laudani went on to say there will still be opportunities to participate in: Beginning Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. What’s missing from that list, though, is Advanced Band – a class Autrey taught. 

Crnkovich declined to make the band director or principal available for an interview and would only respond to questions in writing. Oviedo Community News asked if the enrollment in certain band classes would now be capped at 35 students, as some parents have said.

“No, there is no cap and that was not communicated from Lawton Chiles Middle School to families,” Crnkovich wrote. “There is no ‘cap,’ but there isn’t a program that exists that is an unlimited capacity course.” 

In an email interview with Oviedo Community News, Autrey said the cuts seemed “short-sighted,” and would absolutely impact students, by having larger advanced classes. Students also looking to learn a second instrument will be affected. 

“The classes are being capped next year, and in order to keep any incoming 6th graders in a band class who want to have it, we are unable to take as many returning students who are interested in expanding their musical knowledge to other instruments,” Autrey wrote. “For instance, students that play double reed instruments (oboe and bassoon) need to prepare themselves for high school by learning a secondary instrument since those instruments are not available on the marching field. Without a second band director position and classes being capped due to capacity, those students will not be able to as adequately prepare for high school.” 

Grace Kuperman is the remaining band director at Lawton Chiles Middle School, and is the 2027 Teacher of the Year for Lawton Chiles Middle School. Lawton Chiles Middle School recently won a middle school enrollment award from the Florida Music Education Association because 51% of the school is enrolled in band and chorus combined. 

You can watch a video of a recent performance from the Lawton Chiles Middle School band here. 

Crnkovich could not answer if other band programs in Seminole County are experiencing similar cuts. 

Want to contact your elected leaders and weigh in on this topic? Find SCPS school board contact information here. Have a news tip or opinion to share with OCN? Do that here.

“Declining enrollment is impacting staffing allocations,” Crnkovich said. “Principals work with their budgets and allocations to align with their student population, course offerings, and requirements.”

Parents react to budget cuts 

Terri Shepp had four of her kids go through Lawton Chiles Middle School and Hagerty High School, and was the former Hagerty High School Band Booster President. 

“But I felt it was personally important enough to say something,” Shepp said. “This is not just sour grapes because something is happening to their kids. I want all those families coming behind me to have the same opportunity. I don’t want my neighbors’ kids to not have that same opportunity.”

Shepp said she understands the need for budget cuts. But she’s worried that funding for anything not STEM related is going to be the first on the chopping block – things like band, chorus and theater. And that’s shortsighted for the school’s long-term viability. 

“You can’t do band online,” Shepp said. “The things that draw kids to stay in school, period … are the arts and technical programs. You can’t do band at home.”

This isn’t the first budget cut to draw the ire of parents. Last month, parents rallied at the school board meeting against a Teacher of the Year at Millenium Middle School whose contract wasn’t renewed. And after parents spoke out about a ban on overnight and out-of-state travel for clubs affecting Oviedo High School’s volleyball team and others, the school board gave the superintendent more flexibility to allow budget neutral field trips.

And this isn’t the first time budget cuts have impacted the band programs in Seminole County Public Schools. In 2024, a dispute over paying teachers for planning led to the cancellation of a summer camp meant to bridge between middle school and high school band. The camp returned in 2025, and is currently ongoing. 

Kathryn Jory’s son is currently in the summer band camp. He had a simple assignment from his summer school band director after his first day of summer band camp: Annoy mom with his french horn.

“He’s supposed to annoy us with his buzzing,” Jory said, trying to explain the background news during an interview. “I’ll tell (your teacher) you did a good job!”

Jory’s son is starting sixth grade at Jackson Heights Middle School next year, and is excited to join band – like his older brother, who is now at Hagerty high School. Jory is also worried about how the change at Lawton Chiles Middle School could eventually impact the band program at Oviedo High School and Hagerty High School as well. 

“Changes are never made in a vacuum. Down the road there will be less kids available for band in high school,” Jory said. “I know there are budgetary concerns. … These things need to be looked at with nuance and not with too general a term. It needs to be in context with the arts programs. Arts are important. We can’t just decimate it.” 

Jory said arts are important for another reason: Mental health for kids. Her oldest found “his people” in band and began to thrive there. 

Seminole County Public Schools saw tragedy this year, with three student suicides in the span of one week. 

“I would love to know how I can practically help with this kind of situation,” Jory said. “If we need taxes to happen, ok let’s find the money. I don’t think people want this to go away.”

Abe Aboraya is a Report for America corps member.