August 18, 2025

After a three-year wait, students of every age in Hughson schools can now experience the fruits of Prop 28, the 2022 Arts and Music in Schools Act, that provided additional funding for visual and performing arts in schools.

As the State of California began to unroll guidelines for the fund’s application, Hughson Unified School District created the Arts & Music Taskforce in October 2024 to determine goals and direction for use of the Prop 28 funds. The Taskforce included representation from general education teachers, all arts and music teachers, and administrators from all sites.

“We had a wonderful and productive time together and plan to meet annually, our next meeting scheduled for January 2026,” Hughson High School Music Teacher Katye Maki said. “Music and the arts are part of a well-rounded education, and every student deserves the chance to develop their musical and artistic skills and expression.”

In the 2024-2025 school year, Hughson Unified School District employed two and a half teachers for music education, with 200 students enrolled in the programs. Maki divided her time teaching into thirds: 1/3 with the high school, and 2/3 alternating days between grades at Hughson Elementary School.

Now, thanks to Prop 28, the elementary schools will have their own music teacher, with James Jacobs taking the helm, expanding the number of instructional minutes and grade levels to TK through fifth grade. Michell Beck will continue to teach at Ross Middle School, and Maki focus on high school students has expanded to include Sound Investment (the Hughson High School Honor Choir), Choir, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and a brand new course, Guitar.

With assemblies, music at lunch, and a musical principal, music is part of the culture at Fox Elementary, but the school has not had a formal program for fourth graders since before the COVID-19 shutdowns. “We are very excited that our new teacher and program can give all of our students both a sense of music appreciation as well as allow them to develop their skills as musicians that can become part of a life-long pursuit,”

Jacobs will divide his time by teaching mornings at Hughson Elementary and afternoons at Fox. Transitional kindergarten and first-grade instruction will focus on “learning to sing in tune, move easily to a steady beat and meter, and to connect with the artistic side of music.” Second and third grade students will explore the “many different elements of music, such as beat, tempo, rhythm, and more. Jacobs plans to use a variety of genres to dive into the various elements. “We will be utilizing different rhythmic instruments and our voices throughout the year. We will also be discovering different cultures as we dive into various folk songs from different countries.”

Fourth and fifth graders will then put these elements into practice by learning different instruments, with the recorder in fourth grade and the ukulele in fifth grade. Jacobs also has his sights on developing a choir for fourth and fifth graders.

At the heart of the program is the goal of growing more “Tuneful,” “Beat-ful,” and “Artful.”

“From there,” Jacobs said, “students will begin to develop more of a musical vocabulary and begin to express themselves musically. With this foundation, students can take this knowledge and begin to apply it to an instrument.”

This will set the stage as prospective music students enter Ross Middle School’s program, Jacobs said.

The benefits of music for the brain are well-documented, but learning music is more than another means to an end. Jacobs said, “I think there's more than that. I think it's important for elementary students to study music because it makes you a better human being. A solid music education can help students develop a greater appreciation for music throughout their whole lives. Music is considered the universal language, and every culture has its own form of music. When students learn about different cultures, styles and genres, it helps them have a greater understanding of the world around them.”

Jacobs began his musical career in second grade with choral singing. “I remember as a class singing Tingalayo for a concert, and having it be a great experience. In fourth grade, I had the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, and I chose the flute because it was what was available at our house.” He went on to play trombone and sing in church, school and community choirs and continues to sing with the Modesto Symphony Chorus.

Before he came to Hughson, Jacobs had already heard about HUSD’s music department. “The fame of the music department was known through the excellent education provided by teachers like Brad Thompson and Katye Maki.”

From once a week for a few weeks in rotation, Hughson Elementary School Principal Megan Reisz said, “now students will be able to experience music with Mr. Jacobs almost every week.  We are so excited to see what he will bring out in our students.”

As he met students the first week of school, Jacobs said, “There was a tremendous amount of excitement on their faces. That, coupled with the participation of the students, was an exciting experience.”