Cliff Buchan
News Editor

There will be no Forest Lake High School Marching Band in the Fourth of July parade this year, but the local city band could be in line to see an influx of high school members to its ranks.

The ISD 831 School Board on March 8 authorized Lynn Steenblock, superintendent, to organize a meeting with parents and students who have expressed interest in joining the Forest Lake City Marching Band this summer.

The meeting is the next step in a process that began late in 2006 when the district was asked to bring back the marching band program which has been inactive for six years.

As part of the study, a survey of students in Grades 9-12 determined that 37 students are interested and another 31 are a “maybe” for joining the adult summer band, Steenblock told the board.

The survey was taken after City Band co-founder Steve Hursh met with students at the high school and both junior high schools to explain the adult summer band program.

Hursh will also take part in the upcoming parent-student meeting. No date for that meeting has been announced.

At Hursh’s recommendation, Steenblock said, the meeting will only include students who are entering the high school. Hursh is encouraging students entering the junior high school to take part in the junior high marching band that takes students from both schools, Steenblock said.

Board President Bill Bresin said he was optimistic by the response from the students and the prospects for the future.

“This is a start,” Bresin said. “You don’t know what it will blossom into. It will give our kids a chance (to march).”

Hursh pleased

Hursh, who made five presentations to students last month, said he was encouraged by the fact that 26 percent of the students who listened in showed interest in marching.

“I’m pleased,” he said in an interview. “I came away with a good feeling from the kids.”

Hursh, a Forest Lake High School band and music product of the 1960s, is one of many adults with similar interests who came together to form the City Band 30 plus years ago.

As original members have dropped out, Hursh says there has been a challenge to recruit “new blood” and to ensure that the community tradition of a strong marching band program is carried on.

“This could grow, even if it is just the Fourth of July,” Hursh said.

The school board and administration as part of its study learned from high school band instructors in January that revising a street band and a band for field performances would cost in the area of $178,000. There was little board interest because it would be achieved only with budget reductions.

Hursh said it was important to “inspire” high school students to want to march. No one would be forced to do so, he said.

“Those who want to play — they can play,” he said.

The City Band was joined in 2006 by a half dozen members of the Forest Lake High School Drumline and a number of their parents.

Once students experience the tradition of marching band, Hursh believes most will stick with it.

“This could be a real fun thing and a way to pass the torch of tradition to a younger generation.”

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