Laconia music teachers and students present program growth, staffing and participation data
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Summary
District music staff and students detailed K–12 offerings, staffing levels, participation and recruitment data; board heard staffing gaps at the middle school and examples of student outcomes and community engagement.
The Laconia School Board heard a 40-minute presentation Tuesday from the district’s music staff and students outlining program offerings, staffing, student participation and recruitment efforts across grades K–12.
Quinn Montaros, fine arts department head and music director for Laconia High School, told the board the district has five full-time music staff members and described elementary, middle- and high-school programming, from weekly general music in elementary grades to symphonic band, mixed chorus and jazz band at the high school.
Montaros and elementary teachers said students in kindergarten through second grade use unpitched percussion and third through fifth grade advance to glockenspiels and recorders. The presenters said elementary students typically get music at least once a week and that band instruction for fourth and fifth graders includes two lesson opportunities per week.
The presenters identified a vacancy at the middle school: the general-music position had not been filled, and they said middle-school general music had not run in recent terms because of that vacancy.
Staff shared recruitment and retention charts showing total participation for fourth graders at 47 percent in the latest cohort and described recruitment swings among the three elementary schools. Montaros and colleagues cited several barriers that can affect participation: instrument cost (the district currently provides school-owned instruments for 26 students who cannot afford rentals), transportation and high-school scheduling constraints.
Students from Laconia High School spoke about personal impacts: Milos Shavadich, a junior, said, “The band program... has helped me discover probably my greatest passion ... jazz music.” Other students described skills developed through music such as confidence, time management and social bonds.
Presenters listed community engagement numbers: 52 elementary events, 12 middle-school events and 66 high-school events this year, and noted substantial volunteer and fundraising support from parents and local businesses. High school activities highlighted included regional festivals, All-New England events, parades and prior travel to Disney for performance and recording experiences.
Board members asked about reasons for recruitment drops; presenters pointed to positive reasons (students leaving for other activities) and to financial barriers and staff turnover as concerns. Montaros said the district had seen its highest-ever number of students using district-owned instruments this year.
No formal action was taken; the presentation was received as information and the board moved to other agenda items.
