Martin Hebda, 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,” Hebda 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.

Hebda said the program team locally includes Julie Duty (the founder and executive director of United Sound), Jennifer Yandell and local staff members such as Natalie Clement and others working with the district to implement the program. He said the district already has a list of seven students the ESS department recommended as potential new musicians and that student interest among Union band students has been strong.

Hefner described the funding arrangement: a one-time startup grant that covers a reported startup fee of $2500 and a $35 fee per student (charged for both mentors and new musicians). He said United Sound also has a grant that may provide some instruments to get the program started and that the nonprofit provides mentor training, lesson materials and facility resources.

“The big questions are what are the costs? So there's a onetime startup fee of $2500 dollars. We got a grant,” Hefner said. He added that United Sound provides student materials, concert parts adapted to varied abilities, and online mentor-training videos.

Board members who commented praised the program during the meeting; no formal vote was required to receive the presentation. District staff said they will create a club account to collect fees and said United Sound staff will work with district teachers to register and train mentors.

Hefner described program logistics: mentor training precedes the arrival of new musicians, mentors and new musicians may meet during class or after school (Hefner said Tuesday after-school meetings are likely), and the program will use color-coded music cards and adapted notation to help students access parts. He said the program is expected to be “just as impactful for the mentor students as it is for the new musician students.”

The board heard that United Sound aims to foster inclusion, increase peer mentorship, strengthen the music program and boost student confidence. Staff recommended moving forward with implementation, with instruments and initial mentor training provided through the grant and United Sound resources.

There was no formal request for board funding during the presentation; Hefner said the grant covers startup costs and that the district will manage per-student fees through a club account. Board members expressed support for implementing the program at Union.