Officials in ISD 831 continue to study the topic of marching band at the high school level. At the Feb. 1 school board meeting, Superintendent Lynn Steenblock reported that the matter remains under research. After a student asked the board to consider reinstating the marching band program, Steenblock commenced a study that determined the cost to bring back a street band and a field band would be in the area of $178,000 with some of the costs one-time dollars. Steenblock said last week he has met with Steve Hursh, one of the founders of the Forest Lake City Marching Band. The superintendent said Hursh has agreed to meet with band students at the high school and the two junior high schools to explain the history of marching band in Forest Lake and opportunities to march with the city band in the summer. That could be the key step in a formal partnership between the school and the city band. A secondary level student survey to determine interest in marching band is also being considered, Steenblock said.

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