20 years ago, due to budget reductions, Community Consolidated District 15 announced a plan to eliminate all music, art, and extracurricular programs and activities. After widespread community opposition and pushback (including from Fremd students and parents), as well as opposition from board members, the music program was saved and removed from the list of proposed cuts. The board made its decision in part due to protests at the 4/14/05 board meeting. Due to a mounting deficit, the district was projected to be out of reserve funds by the 2005-2006 school year unless either an upcoming budget referendum passed or several programs were cut. Other proposed cuts, including the removal of interscholastic clubs, sports, field trips, and teacher reductions, were still slated to continue if the then-upcoming budget referendum failed to pass.

Editor’s Note: The “Increase Educational Tax Rate from $2.51 to $2.99” referendum was rejected by voters in February, 2005. However, as of 2025, CCSD15 currently supports a wide range of extracurricular activities, field trips, and a music program.