Las Vegas' Clark County Public School Board of School Trustees to Receive Third Annual Award for Distinguished Support of Music

The Clark County School District (CCSD) Board of School Trustees has been named the recipient of the third annual VH1 Save The Music Award for Distinguished Support of Music Education. The CCSD Board was chosen for its commitment to ensuring that all students in the CCSD have access to the benefits of music education. The award is co-sponsored by the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, The National School Boards Association (NSBA) and NAMM, the International Music Products Association, and will be presented on April 16 at NSBA’s 67th Annual National Conference being held April 13–17 in San Francisco.

“This award exemplifies the outstanding work that the Clark County School District Board of Trustees has done in ensuring their students receive a complete education,” said Paul Cothran, Executive Director, VH1 Save The Music Foundation.

Due to the vision of the CCSD Board of School Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Walt Rulffes, Clark County Schools have become a model for music education. While schools throughout the United States strive to ensure that all children meet the standards outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act by including music as a core part of the curriculum, Clark County stands out as an exemplary school district. The CCSD Board of School Trustees has ensured that each school has certified, qualified music educators, funding for repairs, textbooks, supplies and professional development.

The CCSD spans 8,000 square miles and is the nation’s fifth largest school district, with current enrollment approaching 303,000 students. Approximately 5,000 people move into Clark County each month, and the CCSD population increases by 12,000 to 15,000 students per year. In spite of the additional funding pressures this growth presents, the Board of School Trustees has insisted that all children receive the benefits that music education provides.

Each student, throughout their K-5 education in Clark County, begins learning the fundamentals of music at an early age. This music instruction is administered by certified, qualified music educators on a weekly basis. The Clark County secondary (grades 6–12) vocal and instrumental music program is based on the Board's philosophy, which stems from the Content Standards for Music Education The Board believes a high quality, comprehensive music program, taught by fully licensed K-12 music educators, should be made available to all students on an equal basis. In addition, the CCSD Board of School Trustees has supported the continued updating of curriculum to incorporate successful new teaching practices, as well as the very latest in technology.

The CCSD Board of School Trustees was instrumental in the development of the school district’s renowned Mariachi Program (which serves over 2,500 Clark County Public School students). In addition, the CCSD Board supports professional development, bringing world-class conductors, clinicians and consultants to the district. The Board continuously supports and states the value of supplementing in-school music instruction with all-district music festivals and youth concert series. Board members also give generously of their personal time to attend student performances each year.

About VH1 Save The Music
Since VH1 Save The Music was created in 1997, more than $34 million worth of new musical instruments has been donated to 1,400 public schools in 80 cities, improving the lives of more than 800,000 children. VH1 Save The Music’s many honors include the Governors’ Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence and many Beacon Awards.