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Community must step up to save the bands
Published Friday, May 16, 2008
I was recently made aware that due to budget cuts, the Fergus Falls school district is in danger of losing its marching band, homecoming field shows, one jazz band, and a number of other important band programs.
As an alumni of Fergus Falls and a former band student, I was very saddened by this news. Like many past and current students,
band was an important part of my education for many years.
Whether or not you’ve ever picked up an instrument, I can guarantee that you have at some time benefited from the music provided by the Fergus Falls school bands.
After all, what would a homecoming game be without the field show? What would the annual Summerfest parade be without the local marching band?
From sporting events to graduation ceremonies to the taps playing on Memorial Day, the Fergus Falls school bands serve as the public face of this community.
Therefore, the community must join together to save the band! Whether it's $10, $50 or $100, every contribution will help. Please send your donations (all tax deductible) in as soon as possible with checks made out to the Fergus Falls Band Boosters. Checks can be mailed to the following address: Fergus Falls Band Boosters, PO Box 115, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.
Shannon Bacon
Moorhead
FFHS Class of ‘04
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by dotmom (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is extremely sad. I, too, was a band member (in the 1980's) and my participation in the band and learned love of music helped to shape my life. Isn't enrollment and loss of students to surrounding shcools a problem? Does the school board think that cutting programs like these is going to HELP enrollment?
Posted by notsocommonsense (anonymous) on May 19, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe the districts administration would consider a pay cut or at least a pay freeze? The savings could be used to keep the music program solvent.
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