Huntington Among the Best Communities for Music
The NAMM Foundation has recognized the Huntington School District as one of the "best communities for music education" in the country. The organization is a non-profit organization with the mission of advancing active participation in music.
"The Best Communities for Music Education Award is a wonderful honor, to be shared by our dedicated teachers and enthusiastic students, as well as our supportive community of parents, administrators and board of education members," said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. "Huntington has maintained its arts programs despite difficult budget times and our music and art departments are grateful for the opportunity to work in a community that recognizes the value of arts education."
The Best Communities designation recognizes collaborative, from-the-ground-up efforts of teachers, administrators, students and parents who continually work to keep comprehensive music education as an integral part of the core curriculum. This year, nearly 2,000 schools and school districts participated in the survey, an increase of 366 percent from 2012, resulting in a record number of designations. In all, 307 districts were recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education Award.
"This award reaffirms something we already know, but it is still a proud moment to have our music students and staff honored on the national stage," Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky said. "Congratulations to Mrs. Fretz, and to all of our K-12 music staff and students. Each individual involved has added his or her contribution to an outstanding performing arts program in Huntington!"
Now in its 14th year, the Best Communities in Music Education award program requires each school and district to detail funding, staffing, commitment to standards and access to music instruction. Responses are reviewed by researchers at The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service of Lawrence, Kansas (an affiliate of the University of Kansas) and the NAMM Foundation to calculate the designated districts and awarded schools.
"There is overwhelming research tying music education to higher overall student success in school and in life," NAMM Foundation Executive Director Mary Luehrsen said. "This designation recognizes communities for their commitment to music education and strengthens support for these programs. Having widely embraced the evidence indicating that music education yields great things in schools and communities, people are increasingly affirmative, advocating for school music curricula, and championing programs like Best Communities that recognize this commitment to music education."