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Big Lake music teachers present three‑year arts plan focused on access, community and facility support
Summary
District music teachers presented a three‑year Comprehensive Arts Plan (CAP) to unify K–12 instruction, expand equitable access, strengthen facilities and build community partnerships; the plan will be finalized for submission to Perpich and implementation begins next school year.
Bri Hawkins and Hannah Hermanson, members of the Big Lake music department CAP team, presented a districtwide three‑year strategic plan to the school board, saying the plan is intended to make the music program "a cornerstone of what it means to be a Hornet." The team said it will submit the finalized plan to Perpich at the end of the school year and begin phased implementation next year through 2029.
The presenters described four strategic directions: aligning and unifying instructional offerings so all students—including those with diverse learning needs—have a coherent K–12 pathway; cultivating a musical community that strengthens family and community connections; supporting musical excellence through better‑maintained facilities and culturally relevant curriculum; and advocating for operational transparency and partnerships with school leadership and communications staff. "Our mission is to challenge, educate, and inspire every student to reach their highest level of achievement in academics, athletics, and the arts," Hawkins said.
Teachers on the CAP team highlighted specific priorities: investigating scheduling and instructional models to extend adaptive music offerings beyond elementary grades; launching family surveys to incorporate cultural traditions into repertoire; reviewing music libraries for educational rigor; and leveraging a free Perpich professional development session on August 11 to build a K–12 scope and sequence. The presenters said they are exploring the logistics of a district‑wide K–12 booster club to support fundraising and community engagement.
Board members asked about next steps and who would manage logistics; the presenters said the booster club idea is in the brainstorming stage and that many implementation details—including budget impacts—will be provided as staff and teachers finalize the CAP. The board did not take formal action on the plan during the meeting. The team asked board members to advocate for robust music programming, attend performances across buildings, and support the district as it moves toward implementation.
