DCPS Axes Theater, And a Language Dept. At Walls–Again.

Closing night of last year’s production of RENT.  Full cast, Ensemble, and Stage Band (top) and image of Cast A performing (bottom) / Via Avajane Lei

Difficult for both students and teachers, budget cuts remain constant in DCPS. This year, a budget deficit means that two positions at Walls are being cut to make space for a new administrative position. The theater department head, Mx. Olivia Tyndall, is being given a reduced, part-time role, and one of the two French teachers, Mr. Bouchaib Mifdal, is being let go. A new administrative position, Director of Strategy and Logistics is being added in their stead.

Many students are disappointed by the cuts, especially the reduction of the theatre department. One student, who requested to remain anonymous, said that "I love theater and acting and I’m really disappointed that there won’t be any plays or theater classes next year.” Khiya Brown (‘28) echoed this, saying that “ [The budget cuts] take away lots of stuff us students enjoy.”

Students also disagreed about the necessity of the budget cuts. Lucy Mayer (‘27) said that “It’s stupid that we are the smartest school in DCPS and they give us no money,” referring to Walls’ dominance in local school rankings. Another student, who wished to remain anonymous, disagreed, saying that “DCPS has a limited amount of money, and there are schools that need it more than walls.” 

For many students, classes like French and Theater have been particularly meaningful. Phoebe Sabar (‘25) explained: “I have grown so much as a singer and a performer due to my experiences doing the shows at Walls.” She noted that since she is graduating she won’t experience the direct impact of the cuts, but is disappointed that “students won’t be able to experience the community that is important for a lot of people.”

Some students have also expressed concerns about the targeting of art in the current political climate, with the federal government making cuts to media and arts organizations. Dhariya Kravitz (‘28) stated that “We should be supporting the arts now more than ever.” Mx. Tyndall also addressed this, noting that Budget cuts often affect the arts first “especially right now as the world is chaotic and turning against arts and education and theater in general.”

While some students are concerned about the targeting of art, other students believe that Walls made the right choice in picking the classes to cut. The anonymous student added that “ the school made the right choices in who to cut,” as they didn’t fully eliminate either department, maintaining reduced French and theater classes. Porter Jackson (‘28) took another perspective, stating that “I’m not going act as though the class is loved and cared for by everyone.”

Indeed, student enthusiasm was considered by the School admin. Low enrollment numbers were the deciding factor for teaching position cuts. Some, however, have taken issue with enrollment as a deciding factor in this process. Mx. Tyndall argued that the system was flawed, explaining that enrollment numbers have been low because “there wasn't a theater department last year when people were enrolling in classes.”

The primary reason for the cuts is to make up for the salary deficit created by the addition of a new administrative role. The administration “were in a deficit of one salary, so they opted to let go of an extra person as well, so two people were let go in order to bring on a new admin role.” Said Mx. Tyndall, explaining the administration’s choice to bring on a new admin role by terminating a current teaching position. 

Students, parents, and teachers are all working to try and regain funding for these positions. Jackson noted that some of his friends are “spam emailing DCPS to get them to view the problem and not cut Drama.” Other students have worked with Mx. Tyndall to create a Save Walls Theatre video project highlighting what theatre at Walls means to them. “Save Walls Theatre is something students requested to be put together as a final effort,” Said Mx. Tyndall. 

The HSA also held a fundraiser for the performing arts department, with students performing in an effort to help the department. Mx. Tyndall, along with other staff members at Walls gave remarks about the theatre department’s situation. The event raised over 11,000 in one night, which was “pretty game changing for the department overall” according to Mx. Tyndall. 

The Walls community remains optimistic that they can salvage the positions, following similar budget cuts last year which were rolled back after two teachers had their positions terminated. Penelope Hoppis (‘28) noted that the past situation “gives me a little bit more hope that the classes won’t get cut and the teachers will stay too.” Khiya shared a similar thought, stating that “as long as there is a department/program, things have a chance to get better.”