For Immediate Release:
March 1, 2004
Sen.
Mark Snyder
Senate Approves Bill Creating Oklahoma School of the Arts
The full Senate has given approval to a measure
that would create the Oklahoma School of the Arts. Senator
Mark
Snyder is author of Senate Bill 1501 and said the school
would be similar to the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics
(OSSM.)
“The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics has
done an excellent job of providing academic opportunities
to some of our state’s most brilliant young minds.
But now it is time to provide a similar opportunity to another
group of young people who are equally as brilliant in areas
of performing and fine arts,” explained Senator Snyder,
R-Edmond.
Senator Snyder said that like OSSM, the Oklahoma School
of the Arts would be a boarding school for students in their
final two years of high school. The students would have
the opportunity to study music, dance, art, writing, film,
drama and other fields in the performing and fine arts with
some of the best instructors in the country.
“Too often the arts are dismissed as nonessential,
easily cut during tough budget times. But study after study
shows the importance of music and art in cognitive development.
By short-changing the arts, our children are short-changed.”
explained Snyder.
“Beyond that, we have an opportunity to put Oklahoma
on the map in arts education, just as we have with OSSM.
The creation of the Oklahoma School of the Arts will elevate
our state in many ways—educationally, economically
and culturally.”
Senator Snyder said many of the details are still being
worked out, including where the proposed school would be
located. He said one possibility would be for local communities
to compete for the arts school.
SB 1510 now moves to the House of Representatives for further
consideration.
For
more information contact:
Senate
Communications Division- (405) 521-5774
