Band and choir leaders report successful New Orleans educational tour for 56 students

Dakota Anderson, choir teacher and trip leader, presented a review of the band and choir educational tour the district took March 22–27 to New Orleans and surrounding sites.

Anderson said 56 students from band and choir traveled on two coach buses, rehearsed with a nearby high school, visited museums including the World War II museum, performed for veterans at a retirement home in Gulfport, Mississippi, and took part in cultural and educational stops. He told the board the students were well behaved, the trip provided curricular benefits and the experience reinforced both musical and historical learning.

Anderson said the trip required significant logistical planning and fundraising and that the group hired chaperones and a security guard for night coverage. The board heard a recommendation to continue offering performance tours as a means of supporting student retention and program visibility; any future tours would return to the board for approval.

"It was one of the most well behaved groups I've ever had the privilege of going on," Anderson said of the students.

The board expressed appreciation for the staff and students and indicated it would consider future trip proposals when they are brought forward for fundraising and scheduling approval.