Kuna Gold Parent and Community Organization

In 2012, our music program was dying.

The current director retired.  The school district had to cut budgets and the music program lost funding except for the teacher's pay.  The marching program had no awards or rankings to show.  Students who graduated out of the program did not move onto college.  The name "Kuna" meant boring shows, mediocre music and little parent involvment.

The students were discouraged.  The parents were discouraged and a little bit apathetic.

Enter one parent who refused to quit or give up and one new band director.

Over the course of two years, the new director connected with the students in a way that they had never seen.  It mattered not who you were or what your abilities-or disabilities-were.  Everyone was expected to achieve.  Everyone was expected to WORK.  Everyone was expected to keep all their grades at a C or better.  Everyone was expected to WORK.  Did we mention the WORK?

The parent who refused to quit or give up pushed the booster organization forward and started to bring out other parents who refused to quit or give up.  Parents started to see their children achieve success, not only in band, but in all areas of academics.  The parents realized how important music education was to not only their children, but to ALL children.

Fast forward 2 years.  The Kuna Gold is now the top ranked marching program in the state of Idaho.  They have also competed on a national level, ranking at 11th amoung the Western United States.  The concert bands have reviced "Superior" ratings across the board.

The Kuna Gold has the highest number of participants with IEP's and 504 (special education) plans at Kuna High School.  BUT they also have the highest GPA's of any activity at Kuna High School.

Colleges have taken notice and now visit and recruit Kuna music students heavily, trying to draw these amazing kids to their programs.  Quality begets quality.  Students receive scholarships and money for participating in college music prgrams reqardless of their chosen field of study.

The Parent who refused to quit or give up, has strengthened her resolve.  She is now joined by many others who refuse to quit or give up on music education. 

We belive in the POWER of music education.  Please join us today!