Perham Schools Approve Chicago Spring Trip, Seniors Included
Perham Dent School Board unanimously approved a four day, three night spring trip to Chicago for graduating seniors after hearing requests from band director Matt Lamb and choir teacher Paul Papenfuss. The decision supports growing music programs that now serve hundreds of students and matters to families because costs are borne by participating students with fundraising expected to offset expenses.
PERHAM — The Perham Dent School Board voted unanimously on November 14 to allow graduating seniors in the Perham Dent music programs to travel to Chicago for a four day, three night spring trip. The request came from band director Matt Lamb and choir teacher Paul Papenfuss as part of efforts to expand extracurricular opportunities for students and to sustain recent program growth.
School officials described significant participation in both programs. The band program now serves students in grades 5 through 12 and includes about 250 students. Choir participation is similar, with about 200 students overall and 74 students at the high school level. Teachers told the board that travel opportunities have become an important tool to retain and grow student involvement in music and to provide performance and educational experiences outside the region.
The district worked with Leisure Time Tours of Monticello, Minnesota as the identified travel provider. Board members approved participation on the condition that costs are covered by the students who choose to participate. Fundraising by students and community supporters is expected to help offset expenses, and the district will not finance the trip from local tax revenue. The board also clarified that seniors may take part even if the trip occurs after formal graduation, a scheduling flexibility that can affect planning for spring events.
Board discussion included the possibility of offering a closer, single day trip for middle school students in the future as a way to extend travel experiences while limiting costs and classroom time away. For many families in Otter Tail County the decision will bring opportunities as well as questions about affordability and access, since participation requires out of pocket payments even with fundraising.
The approved Chicago trip reflects a broader trend among school arts programs toward experiential travel as a retention and recruitment strategy. With roughly 250 students in band and 200 in choir, Perham Dent is investing in music pathways that reach from elementary grades through high school, and the board action makes a high profile, competitive travel opportunity available to graduating seniors.
