Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Is it possible to reinstate the Forest Lake High School Marching Band program? Sure.

But doing so would likely be a costly proposition and one that would happen at the expense of something else.

"There is no money," said Superintendent Lynn Steenblock during a report to the school board on Thursday, Jan. 4.

After hearing a student request in December to bring back the marching band program, Steenblock researched the history of the band and reported to the school board last week.

Bringing back the program is possible, he said, but it would also be costly with large start-up expenses involved with forming a street or parade band and a field band.

Those costs could run in excess of $178,000 for both levels of marching band. Reinstating a street band could come in the range of $126,000, he said.

Steenblock based his report after consulting with Richard Hahn, the long-time high school band director who once led Forest Lake's widely traveled high school marching band.

"We don't have additional revenues to put in new programs and services," Steenblock told the board last week.

That might have been different, he said, had the public supported a second operating levy proposal during the Nov. 7 election. While the public voted to renew a five-year $6.5 million operating levy to avoid budget cuts, additional funding for program enhancements was defeated.

In light of just passing the levy to keep programs and staff in place, Steenblock said he did not relish the idea of adding new programs that would result in something else having to be cut.

When activity fees paid by students in the marching band are factored into the financial picture, some $100,000 would be needed for the street band alone, Steenblock said.

Band history

Forest Lake High School's marching band program has a storied history that was a valued part of community life here for more than 40 years.

The band was widely traveled for major national parades, including trips to New York, Washington, DC, Miami, New Orleans, Dallas and the famed Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA, where the band appeared twice.

The band also was an accomplished field marching unit with halftime shows at football games in Green Bay, WI and Winnipeg, Manitoba, in addition to Minnesota Vikings halftime performances in Minneapolis.

In 1987 the band was invited to the Metrodome by the Minnesota Twins to perform during the World Series.

In the early 1990s, the direction of the high school band program saw changes as concerns were raised regarding the classroom time needed for marching band practice. According to the Steenblock report last week, it was determined more time was needed for pedagogical instruction.

"It became clear that Forest Lake's band student was paying a high artistic price for the large amount of class time invested in field marching band," Steenblock said in his report to the school board.

As the district faced diminishing finances in the late 1990s it was during a round of budget cuts in the spring of 2001 that the summer marching band program was eliminated by action of the school board based on a high school and administrative recommendation.

The band made its last performance in the Forest Lake Fourth of July parade in 2000.

The savings came in not having transportation expenses. Hahn maintained his summer contract with duties switching to teaching lessons in the junior high and elementary program. His current duties call for him to assist the junior high school marching program which did not march last summer.

As the summer marching program waned, the high school made significant strides with its symphonic winds program. In addition, students in the program who once marched across the United States in parades, were now touring European and Scandinavian countries performing concerts.

An overseas concert tour this spring is now in the works.

Key factors

In evaluating the possibility of reinstating the band, Hahn expressed a number of concerns that were conveyed to the board by the report. They are:

ïCompetition for time and other primary academic interests.

ïNew standards and graduation requirements.

ïStudent involvement in other activities.

ïOther reductions have negatively impacted the feeder program.

ïCompetition/partnership with the Forest Lake City Marching Band.

ïLack of practice space for football field performances.

ïVolunteer participation system may not produce student enrollment.

In discussing the issue briefly last week, board members agreed some form of alliance with the city band may provide an opportunity for students who want to march.

Before taking any action, board member Eric Langness suggested a survey of students to determine the level of interest in the program.

Steenblock was asked to continue his research and report to the board at its February or March meetings.

The costs

The costs for reinstatement paint an expensive proposition for the school district.

An estimated $126,469 would be needed to bring back a street band for parades. The cost would include dollars for new instruments and band uniforms.

The later item, a one-time expense, would exceed $50,000.

Salaries for the head director ($3758), front line coordinator ($2505), drum line coordinator ($2505), music/ arranger ($2500) and drill/choreographers ($2500) would be ongoing costs.

Forming a field marching band would add an additional $51,774 of expense. It would include new equipment, staff costs and dollars for summer camp expense.

The grand total is $178,243 if both components would be restored.

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