A Lexington restaurant weighs in on controversy surrounding the Cassidy Elementary School board’s decision to eliminate stand-alone art classes, offering students a free meal and exhibition space if they bring artwork art.
The school’s decision-making board recently decided to eliminate art classes as part of personnel and budget decisions, and Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins granted the appeal. Parents on Monday ” appealed to the school board, whose members are postponing the vote until they can get more information.
Bourbon n’ Toulouse co-owner Kevin Heathcoat spoke to the Herald-Leader Wednesday about the restaurant’s initiative, which came a day after the newspaper reported Cassidy’s parents’ appeal to the school board.
Heathcoat further said he would announce a fundraising effort for a planned PTA program aimed at supplementing arts education. Euclid Avenue Restaurant is located in the Cassidy neighborhood.
In a Facebook post Wednesday, restaurant officials said that for 20 years, Bourbon ‘n Toulouse “has been huge supporters of the arts, from our first group of misfit employees who were almost all majors to art in the United Kingdom.
“We are truly saddened by the news that Cassidy Elementary has made the decision to remove art from its curriculum,” the post said. “Because of our deeply held beliefs, we will be offering our walls to the students of Cassidy Elementary School to bring a piece of their incredible work of art, and we will display it in the restaurant until the end of the school year. We will thank each artist for their participation with a free meal.
Artwork can be dropped off by May 4 and the restaurant is offering one free meal per student.
Heathcoat said Wednesday that the effort was the idea of his wife and co-owner, Cameron Heathcoat.
“Cameron and I come from a family of teachers,” he said. “I was actually a primary school teacher myself. This hits very, very close to home.
He said they support elementary schools and believe it is important to have art and other special lessons in the classroom. They are concerned about course eliminations reported at other Fayette schools.
Heathcoat said Cassidy PTA officials told them that with the loss of classroom arts instruction, they were going to raise money to supplement the schools’ arts program. He said he would soon announce a fundraising campaign for restaurants. in a day or two.
In response Wednesday, Fayette County Public Schools spokesperson Dia Davidson-Smith said the district “appreciates and values the support of all members of the community, but will not offer further comment.” .
