Budget Cuts Threaten Intercommunal Music School of Lauragais
The EIML faces severe challenges due to a €40,000 budget cut, risking its operations and community role.
Key Points
- • EIML faces a €40,000 budget cut from Haute-Garonne council.
- • Annual budget is €309,000, with 97% for salaries.
- • President Cassan calls the cut 'brutal and violent.'
- • Community has launched a petition to support the school.
The Intercommunal Music School of Lauragais (EIML) is facing a grave financial crisis following a €40,000 budget cut imposed by the Haute-Garonne departmental council. This significant reduction threatens the school’s operations and its ability to kick off the upcoming semester, as it currently operates on an annual budget of €309,000, with 97% allocated to salaries for its twelve teachers.
Jean-Clément Cassan, president of EIML and former mayor of Caraman, described the cut as 'brutal and violent,' noting that it was implemented without prior notice, leaving the institution unable to manage the sudden loss of funding. With fewer than 200 students enrolled, the school is considering emergency measures such as redistributing students, increasing family fees, and potentially cutting certain instruments, which undermines its long-standing commitment to inclusive education.
To galvanize community support, teachers have initiated an online petition that has collected hundreds of signatures, emphasizing EIML's importance as a cultural institution in the region. Local officials, including Florence Siorat and Laurent Hourquet, have acknowledged the situation, expressing a need for dialogue to resolve this funding crisis and ensure the school's sustainability into the future.