NINNEKAH - Students at Ninnekah Schools will soon hear the sound of music in their classrooms. After several years without a music program, the Ninnekah School Board voted at its May 15 meeting to reinstate the program, including elementary music and, ultimately, a student band.

According to Ninnekah School Superintendent Todd Bunch, Lindsay music teacher Heather Bridwell, who has had success rebuilding Lindsay’s music program, will teach elementary music in Ninnekah, on an every-other-day basis, with students alternately attending music classes and physical education classes.

“We’re excited about it,” said Bunch. “Research data shows that students perform better academically when they are exposed to music. It enables them to use different parts of the brain and increases their aptitude.”

Starting fall 2008, music will be a full-time class, with one to two music periods at the elementary level expanding to an hour or two at the secondary level for band.

According to Bunch, the school newspaper surveyed Ninnekah students to see which classes they would most like to see added or reinstated. Art came in first with music coming in second.

“Art’s a little tougher; it’s hard to find certified art people,” said Bunch. “But we want students involved in the decisions we make.”

While non-certified teachers may teach art classes, students do not receive credit for the classes. Therefore, school officials opted to reinstate the music program for now.

“Music brings a broad spectrum and it brings students another option to participate in and hopefully more incentive to be at a passing grade point average and be academically eligible,” said Bunch. “Kids more and more need incentives, whether its athletics or FFA, we hope music brings competition and incentive.”

In addition Bunch said the reinstated music program, vocal music, show choir and band, will increase the number of school assemblies for students, parents and the community.

“We’re really excited. We have not had one negative comment, it’s been overwhelmingly positive among the kids, teachers, the administration and parents,” said Bunch.

Classes were dropped after several years of low carry-over funds for Ninnekah Schools, with a low of $42,600 carry over in 2002-2003 and $61,790 carry over in 2003-2004.

A full-time teacher with benefits requires $40,000 a year.

Today, however, the school system is more financially stable with a carry over of $612,000 in 2004-2005 and $640,000 carry over in 2006-2007.

“We are at this point fiscally stable enough to reinstate school programs,” said Bunch. “We felt like we can more than afford it.

Bunch credits several factors with the increase in carry-over revenue, including a change in budgeting structure, an increase in Gross Production revenue, an increase in state and local revenue and, lastly, a change in administration.