Send the CHS band packing

An invitation to perform in the presidential Inaugural Parade was music to the ears of members of the Colony High School marching band. The only high school marching band in the state, Colony hopes to mark time to the nation’s capitol, a singular honor that would make the band, school, Mat-Su Valley and state of Alaska proud.

There’s one catch — the band is still about $25,000 short of the $80,000 it takes to send an entire band more than 4,000 miles.

Although not performing as part of the inauguration that would have seen Gov. Sarah Palin become vice president, we’re pleased our Valley and state still has such a rare opportunity to be part of the celebration. And while the band members, parents and supporters have done an admirable job of raising about $55,000 (and at the outset of an economic depression), it needs our help.

This is where the Mat-Su Borough School District Board of Education can step up to the plate. Board President Jim Colver has called a special meeting of the board for Monday to ask his colleagues to approve covering the balance. It’s an opportunity for our school board to step up in a show of support not only for the band, but for arts in our schools.

Of course, there are those who would consider the district’s financing of a band trip a financial extravagance. Other school-level extra-curricular groups fund their own out-of-state trips — like football, wrestling and basketball teams — without help from the district. These programs also plan these trips as far out as a year in advance and have considerable more time to raise funds. Also, it’s much more expensive to send a large group of band members, along with their instruments, than it is for a sports squad with far fewer participants.

By approving the funds to send the Colony marching band to the inauguration, the school board has an opportunity to show it recognizes not only the educational experience of a lifetime for these talented young musicians, but their place in history. Alaska’s only high school marching band performing at the inauguration for our next president of the United States is a big deal.

We encourage the school board to support Colver’s motion and send the Colony High School marching band packing for Washington, D.C.