JACKSON, CA - Bowing to pressure from a very vocal group of parents and students the Amador County School board has decided to keep the district's music program in tact.

"I've never seen anything compared to this," said Mike Carey, Amador County Unified School District superintendent. He heads the tiny foothill district that serves 5,000 students and has to reduce its budget by $2 million because of impending state budget cuts.

The board considered getting rid of elementary music and the job of Chris Tootle, one of two music teachers. But after 75 parents and students showed up at a meeting to complain, board members decided to keep the music playing which means Tootle will keep his job.

However, board members did vote to reduce nursing and counseling services.