Superintendent Ron Burke said, after meeting with administrators and other school officials, the district will use $26,000 to replace aging tools that have been in the ag and technology rooms since the 1960s, $14,000 will be used to purchase new musical instruments and $10,000 will go toward enrichment activities for the district's students.
Mr. Burke said he was grateful for Assemblywoman Jenne's support in securing additional funding for the district.
"The money for field trips will benefit kids from pre-K to grade 12, and we've needed modern tools for our ag and traditional shop classes. And our music department was in dire need of some new instruments," he told Assemblywoman Jenne.
The assemblywoman had an opportunity to meet with students in band in and chorus – from elementary school to high school – during a recent visit to the school.
Assemblywoman Jenne said she encourages school districts to consider funding music and arts programs with the supplemental state funding she secures for districts in St. Lawrence and Jefferson counties, noting those programs are often hit hardest when school districts face difficult financial times.
"Your school has some wonderful programs," she told the students. "But if you don't have the instruments and equipment needed to support those programs, they are not as strong as they could be."
She said she was delighted when Mr. Burke told her the district's plans for the additional $50,000 in state aid.
With the encouragement of Tim Savage, director of bands at Canton Central, Assemblywoman Jenne noted she had played the trumpet from the time she was in elementary school until she graduated from high school.
"I was in concert band, the marching band and the stage band, and I was also in the chorus. I was also in the first middle school musical at my school. I played Lucy in 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,''" joking she might have been type cast since she has three younger sisters.
She said her decision to play the trumpet was based, in part, on her family's finances when she was starting in band.
"My fathere played the trumpet, and he had two trumpets. That's what we could afford so I became a trumpet player. It's been my pleasure to be able to help support your music program," she told the students.
Assemblywoman Jenne has secured $1.1 million in supplemental aid for school districts in the River District over the past two years.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne has secured supplemental state aid that will be used, in part, to purchase new musical instruments for the Canton Central School District. She had an opportunity to visit with students in the music program during a recent stop at the school.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne learns about the music program at Canton Central School from vocal music teacher Kimberly Busch, Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Tim Savage and Superintendent Ron Burke during a recent visit to the Canton High School auditorium.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne listens as Tawnie Mustin, Katrina Carter and Bree'Awna Brown and some of their fellow chorus members have some fun around the piano in the Canton High School auditorium.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Canton Central School Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Tim Savage.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Canton Central School Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Tim Savage.
