BURBANK, Calif. — Early this summer, parents were informed that Luther Burbank Middle School would lose its visual arts program because of low enrollment.

Two weeks later, the program was reinstated, but just days before the first day of school, art was eliminated once again.

According to Burbank Unified School District Superintendent Matt Hill, Luther has 790 students and 60 were enrolled in an art class. After reviewing the numbers, he said the decision was made to cut the program, and the teacher was transferred to another school with an art vacancy.

Sources within the district say Luther is now the only secondary school in BUSD without a visual arts program, even though the school received the California Exemplary Arts Education Award just last year.

Arts advocate Amy Aquino, who chairs the Board of Arts for LA, said access to arts education has been proven to help students develop academically as well as socially and emotionally.

“Participation is the most effective way for them to deal with their emotions,” she said, “to learn to regulate their emotions.”

Plus, she points out that the California State Education Code requires that all schools provide dance, music, theatre and visual arts.