Pinellas school board proclaims March as Music in Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month

The Pinellas County School Board on March 11 approved two proclamations recognizing March as Music in Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month, citing recent student achievements and district efforts to expand arts access.

Superintendent Kevin Hendrick and A'Jorie Spencer, the district's pre-K–12 performing arts specialist, described a busy month for music programs. Spencer noted recent successes for Tarpon Springs schools, including a show-choir performance that earned superior ratings and a chorus that took grand-champion honors at a recent competition. Hendrick and Spencer also credited referendum funding with expanding music programs, including access at the pre-K level.

Jonathan Ogle, the district's visual arts supervisor, outlined the district's visual-arts opportunities: every elementary student receives weekly visual-arts instruction from certified teachers, pre-K now receives arts enrichment through referendum funding, and secondary students have access to a wide range of state-approved courses. Ogle also highlighted recent statewide and national student awards and district exhibition opportunities.

The board members praised the programs. Board member Ms. Cain read the Music in Our Schools Month proclamation and Ms. Blacksberg read the Youth Art Month proclamation; both proclamations passed on unanimous 5'0to'00 votes. Helen French, executive director of the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, later addressed the board during public comment and thanked the district for its recognition and support of arts education.

What it means: the proclamations are symbolic recognitions that the district says will support advocacy and community partnerships for music and visual-arts programs; no funding changes were made during the meeting.

Action recorded: board approved proclamations recognizing March 2026 as Music in Our Schools Month and Youth Art Month (votes 5'0to'00).