Orchestra teacher Peter Koenig’s presentation to the School Board on Monday included slides with information and photos.

The Blue Earth Area School Board received a full update on the music programs at all of the BEA schools during their meeting on Monday night, April 8.

Orchestra teacher Peter Koenig gave the music presentation, as part of March is Music in Our Schools Month.

Koenig reported on all of the music programs, saying there was a high quality of music instruction at BEA at all grade levels.

Highlights from his report include that choir is offered to students in grades 6-12 and there are 148 BEA students involved in choir this year.

Also, he said there are 129 students in band, which is offered to students in grades 5-12, and 89 students in orchestra, which is also offered in grades 5-12. That number is up 14 students from last year, Koenig added.

Elementary students in grades K-3 get music two out of every four days in a rotation with art, PE and media, he explained. Students in grades 4-5 get music two out of every three days in a rotation with PE and art.

Koenig also gave an update on all of the concerts which have been held and the ones still on the schedule until the end of the year.

There were quite a few concerts during the month of March, and there are more to come. They include a Kindergarten concert on April 15, first grade concert on May 6, 8-12 orchestra concert May 8, 5-12 band concert on May 13 and 8-12 choir concert on May 22.

“And, of course, there is also graduation and Memorial Day,” Koenig said. “It will be a symphonic orchestra performing at graduation, with both band and orchestra students.”

Koenig also reported on all of the awards the music department had received at contests this year.

There were 45 entries in the solo/small ensemble contest with 49 students participating. BEA had 21 superior ratings and 24 excellent ratings.

The BEA Concert Choir received a superior rating and the BEA Concert Band and Concert Orchestra both received excellent ratings.

In other items at the meeting, the BEA Board:

• Heard an update from superintendent Mandy Fletcher that included information on two upcoming awards programs, one being the Kiwanis/First Bank Blue Earth Academic Awards and Scholarship Program on May 10, and the other the Lions Club Athletic Awards Program on May 17.

• Heard a report from the principals which included information about Prom which will be held on Saturday, April 27, with the Grand March at 7:30 p.m.

• Heard a report from activities director Travis Armstrong which included information that 188 students in grades 7-12 are out for spring sports this year.

• Approved bids for replacing the floor in the high school Commons Area, and a bid for HVAC ductwork to be painted at the high school.

There were two bids for replacing the sports floor in the Commons at the high school. The board accepted the bid of $107,870 from Matt’s Tile Installation.

Superintendent Fletcher told the board the floor replacement was necessary as it is now 30 years old. The project has been on the list for some time, but had been postponed due to other projects needing attention first.

There was only one bid for the duct painting project which was from TMI Coating, Inc., and was a total of $131,400.

The board also received some information about projects planned for this coming summer, which include some sidewalk replacement and new lights in the parking lots.

• Approved several Bucc-y Bag donations (weekend meals sent home with students), from Hope United Methodist Church, Kerry Ingredients, BENCO Electric and Linda’s Place.

• Approved several personnel matters including: new hires Elizabeth Schmelzer as special ed paraprofessional, Tiara Malakowsky as an agriculture teacher, Dirk Ringness as activity bus driver; resignations from science teacher Brian Kokos, phy ed teacher Carol Weerts and elementary teacher Kiana Groves; phased retirement for Karen Hougen.