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Lorain City Schools named among U.S. Best Communities for Music Education; 27 seniors earn roughly $50,000 in scholarships
Summary
District music staff and students celebrated a national recognition and a large group of scholarship awards. Presenters said music participation and program offerings have expanded at every level since the district’s arts investment.
Lorain City Schools on Wednesday announced the district was recognized as one of the Best Communities for Music Education in the United States and presented 27 seniors with scholarships totaling roughly $50,000.
The district’s high school and arts leaders told the Board of Education that the recognition, awarded by a national music-industry organization, reflects program growth at all levels and is expected to help recruiting and community support. "We are now one of the best communities in the country for music education," a district presenter said.
At the meeting, the high school principal introduced students who led the pledge and then music department leaders described program expansion. Presenters said participation has grown across the district: elementary students receive consistent music instruction (third graders learning recorder, fourth graders keyboard and fifth graders ukulele), middle-school string and steel-band offerings have been reintroduced, and high-school enrollment in music rose 52 percent this year. The district cited more performance opportunities, guest-artist residencies and expanded course offerings as drivers of that growth.
The board also heard that 27 seniors received named scholarships from local foundations, community groups and program funds. The principal listed awards including the Beth Stalker scholarship, the Betty K. Hoffman memorial scholarship, the Dozen Dunn scholarship, the Frank Kern scholarship, the Lorain High School JROTC Eric M. Barnes scholarship, the Mildred Roll Memorial scholarship, the Ted Jacobs memorial scholarship and a Red Cross scholarship. Several students received awards of $2,000; some Dozen Dunn and Dozenden awards were $5,000; other scholarships ranged from $250 to $5,000. The principal said scholarship awards this year represented roughly $50,000 to the recipients.
Music teachers and administrators described practical effects of the recognition, including attracting higher-quality applicants for future music positions, potential vendor partnerships and increased family engagement. One teacher who spoke said the district’s arts endowment had been used to support field trips and adjudicated events that helped increase student interest and retention into the high school program.
Board members and staff thanked the music teachers, arts-council members and students for the work that led to the award. The board did not take a separate vote on the recognition; the announcement was part of the meeting’s recognitions and reports.
