Prescott Schools Music Department Receives $6,500 Grant

PRESCOTT - The Music Matters License Plate project, created and developed by Music Aid Northwest and managed by the Washington Music Educators Associa- tion, presented its first grant today utilizing funds raised by the 2012 sales of the new license plates. The grant was made to the Prescott Schools Music Department and was in the amount of $6,500. Funds will be used to pur- chase, repair and maintain instruments for the students in the Prescott School District.

Funding cuts in recent years have had seriously negative effects on many school music departments, especially smaller schools and those in rural areas. Music Aid Northwest is an orga- nization of "older" rock and roll musicians who started their musical education in the public schools, and they wanted to give something back to help some of those schools that were struggling to maintain or revive music programs.

The Prescott School District quickly moved high on the list. Requests for assistance from music teacher Rebecca Wilson, business manager Al Jacobson and Superintendent William Jor- dan made it clear that a previously-strong instru- mental music program had deteriorated over the years in large part due to a lack of usable instruments for students. With more than 90% of the students receiving free and reduced lunches, it was incumbent upon the school to provide and maintain in- struments for the students, and under previous adminis- trators and teachers that had languished.

Music Aid Northwest and the Washington Music Educators Association are pleased to present this first Music Matters grant to the Prescott Music Department. An equal grant is expected to be awarded in the next few months to a school in western Washington. With nearly 1,000 license plates sold in the first year of exis- tence (2012), it is hoped that number will grow annually. Proceeds can be designated to a specific school or left for the general fund to help in special situations, but all proceeds are used in support of music education in the state of Washington.