CAMARILLO : School Board Backs More Band Classes

Owing to a parents group’s success at raising money for band classes, the Pleasant Valley Elementary School District board has decided to continue the district’s instrumental music program for at least another year.

The board voted 4 to 0 Thursday to allocate $52,000 to the Save Our Kids Music group to offer instrumental music in Pleasant Valley’s 13 elementary schools next school year. Board President Ricardo Amador was absent.

The board action represented a victory for Save Our Kids Music, the volunteer group started two years ago to raise money for the band program after the district canceled instrumental music instruction.

Pleasant Valley officials have agreed to continue to fund the band program as long as the volunteer group reimburses the district for the amount spent on music instruction.

But during the past two years, board members have approved money for the band program only one semester at a time because they were unsure if SOKM could raise enough money to cover spending.

The volunteer group raises money by holding benefit events soliciting funds from parents whose children take band classes.

On Thursday, SOKM volunteers presented a check for $10,000 to the school board, leaving a balance of less than $3,000 that the group owes the district for the 1993 spring semester.