Fairmont Area Schools recently received a $50,000 grant from the Schmeeckle Foundation that will be used to purchase band and orchestra equipment for students at the elementary school.

The family foundation is carrying the legacy of long-time Martin County resident Juanita Schmeeckle. It provides grants for the betterment of Martin County in three areas of focus: early childhood care and education; disabled and elderly; and the arts.

James Teubner, a trustee of the Schmeeckle Foundation, is a nephew of Juanita Schmeeckle. He spoke a bit to Juanita’s character.

“Juanita always had a desire to help other people and she wanted to do it anonymously,” he said. “She was a very caring and giving person.”

With the $50,000 the district received, it is investing another $100,000 that will go toward music and arts programs at the elementary and high schools.

From the grant, $20,000 will be used to purchase new band instruments for students in grades 5-6 who qualify for free/reduced lunch. Another $20,000 will be used to purchase new orchestra instruments for students in grades 5-6 who qualify for free/reduced lunch. Finally, $10,000 will be used to pay for an artistic paraprofessional to assist in the K-2 elementary art classes during the second semester of this school year.

Superintendent Joe Brown said the district is getting 24 new band instruments and 20 new pieces of orchestra equipment. He explained what students in band and orchestra currently use.

“There’s really three options,” he noted. “One, some individuals own their own instruments. Two, the school has some equipment, or thirdly, students rent equipment from an outside music studio.”

“What we’re trying to do is make sure that those that can’t afford equipment or to rent equipment will have it provided for them,” Brown said.

Many students in the Fairmont district are in the free and reduced lunch program, but it is not just in Fairmont where this is an issue.

“I think that’s true across the entire county,” said Dale Harbitz, a Schmeeckle Foundation committee member. “If families are struggling it’s hard to put extra money toward buying band instrument, so to have this available to kids is wonderful.”

Fairmont’s music teachers shared their thoughts on the grant that will benefit their students.

“It was a blessing, that’s for sure,” said Kim Breamer, who teaches sixth-grade band. “It’s exciting to see the kids’s faces when you put new instruments in their hands.”

Katie Koenning, the orchestra teacher for grades 5-12, said that when the basses first came in, she had to ask the sixth-graders to stop kissing the instruments because they needed to start class.

“Psychologically, it’s just a huge difference to be playing on something new,” Koenning said. “I think when you have something that’s falling a part a little bit it’s just a barrier to learning but when you have something new and shiny, it hooks them and they want to keep practicing and playing.”

Fairmont was not the only area school to receive a grant from the Schmeeckle Foundation. Martin County West got $20,000 that also will be used to purchase new band and orchestra instruments for its students. The district is matching the grant with $20,000 of its own.

Nickole Bowie, band teacher for grades 5-12 at Martin County West said, “Everyone’s pretty excited. We’re getting started with the bid process right now. We’re concentrating on elementary instruments.”

The Schmeeckle Foundation is in its fourth year and is set up to last for another 35.

“We have quite a bit of opportunities in the next 35 years. I feel like we’re just getting started,” said Wade Abed, who is a trustee through Profinium, Inc.