Tamalpais High School has proposed new buildings for the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) departments. The project would consist of two new buildings: a four-story building for science, technology, engineering, and math classes, consisting of 11 classrooms, and a new music building with more space for students and instruments. But, the question is: will this new proposed music building really benefit music students? I think so.
Mike Woolard, senior director of facilities planning, has been in the Tamalpais Union High School District (TUHSD) for two years. Since his time here, the proposed STEAM project has been talked about for about a year and a half. For the project to proceed, voters of the community would need to vote for Measure B on Nov. 5. If the measure passes, the project would begin in summer 2025.
If STEAM gets approved, most math and arts classes will be held in portables stationed on the tennis courts. Woolard estimated that they would be there for around two years, which is a long time for music students. The smaller space would make it more constricting for music students to practice with instruments and the right acoustics for the time being, but the benefits after are worth the wait.
Since Spiro Tsingaris, Tam’s music teacher, joined the school in 2000, the music program has steadily grown.
“You know, when I took over in 2000, the program was very small. They didn’t have a choir for over a decade, and so the program had really grown in my time at Tam,” Tsingarsis stated.
Now in his 25th year at Tam, Tsingaris said the “community has been super supportive.” Since the program started, Tsingaris has felt that the facilities have limited its growth. Having a new music building could expand the program from having just over 100 to having over 200 students.
Violinist and Tam junior Mia Delmis expressed her concerns about the proposed project. Delmis chose Tam because of the music program. She has had a “really enjoyable time” with the teacher and students.
“I live far away, but Tam has an amazing music program, so that’s why I’m here,” Delmis said.
Delmis has a huge love for music and voiced her concerns about how the STEAM project will affect her and her classmates. She is worried that the program may become smaller if they move to portables while it is being built.
“I’m not sure how it will affect kids signing up for the class,” Delmis said. Students might feel discouraged if the spaces are smaller and make it more difficult to practice.
As more seniors graduate from Tam, the student population has declined. Which could lead to declining music enrollment.
“In essence, we graduate more kids from 12th grade than we take in students in transitional kindergarten and kindergarten at the same time in our county,” Woolard noted.
Adding new buildings would attract more families to make the move to Marin County, increasing Tam’s enrollment and growing the music program. This is also a chance for our school to shift more focus to our arts programs. We mainly focus on sports—especially football—at Tam. This is an opportunity for the school to show their support of the arts by giving them an improved building.
This new building will show that every student’s voice is heard at Tam and every program has a place to thrive. It presents the school as a well-rounded community where all students can flourish—no matter their interests.
