Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Union band director presents United Sound inclusion program; startup grant covers fees
Summary
Band director Martin Hefner told the board United Sound will pair peer mentors with students with disabilities, will meet weekly in the band room and perform at district concerts; program startup is covered by a grant and there is a $35-per-student fee.
Martin Hefner, the Union High School band director, told the Casa Grande Union High School District board on Oct. 20, 2025, that the district will launch United Sound, an inclusion-focused music mentorship program that pairs students with and without disabilities to make music together.
“United Sound… the mission to move barriers, foster social change through music,” Hefner said, explaining the nonprofit’s model and the benefits he has observed in nearby districts. He said the program pairs one new musician with three peer mentors, meets weekly in the band room, and will include the new musicians in a December concert and again in May.
Hefner said the program team locally includes Julie Doody (the founder and executive director of…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
