Blair Community Schools has earned the recognition as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education.”
The honor was presented to the district by Doug Schmitt, co-owner of Schmitt Music in Minneapolis, via Zoom during the BCS Board of Education's regular meeting March 8. The award is given by the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation.
In 2020, 754 school districts, including Blair, earned the award out of more than 14,000 school districts in the U.S. The program celebrates and recognizes innovative and resourceful music education programs in the U.S. and those schools and communities that support them.
To apply, members of the BCS music department filled out a 54-page survey.
Members of the music department include Jeff Mount, Dan Hutsell, Kirk Schjodt, Molly Braniff, Courtney Reznicek, Chiyo Trauernicht, Kay Dickinson, Janelle Jaworski and Kori Archbold.
Supt. Randy Gilson praised the music department, the Otte Blair Middle School and Blair High School fine arts boosters and the school board.
“This award couldn't be possible without the tremendous support of our music instructional team,” he said.
Board president Kari Loseke congratulated the teachers for the recognition.
“(It's a) well deserved award,” she said. “I'm just very proud of the music department here at Blair.”
