When and why was the Florida School Music Association formed?
Until 1997, music activities had functioned under the supervision of the Florida High School Athletics Association. At that time, the legislature restructured FHSAA and mandated that only athletics would be served by that group.
The leadership of the Florida Music Educators Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Orchestra Association and the Florida Vocal Association recognized both a need and an opportunity. They understood that interscholastic music activities would be supervised by some state organization, and preferred to create a supervisory organization that would function in the best interests of music educators, rather than allowing another association to take charge.
Who serves on the FSMA Board of Directors?
Members are appointed to the FSMA Board by the Florida District School Superintendents (2), the Florida School Board Association (2), the Florida Association of Secondary School Administrators (4), the Department of Education (3 - representing private schools, as well as an additional high school and middle school principal), and the Florida Parent Education Association (1). The music associations each appoint a single representative, except for FMEA which may appoint two representatives.
Who works for FSMA?
The Florida School Music Association contracts the Center for Fine Arts Education to provide association management which includes executive management through a named Executive Director. Services include:
How does the FSMA achieve it's goals?
The awareness of value and importance of arts participation
Data collection to established how many students enter music activities, to track the rise and fall of music participation across schools and counties, to help determine when school music programs are growing or declining.
Partnerships with the Florida Cultural Alliance for lobbying; developing relationships with the appointing bodies to the Board (FADSS, FSBA, FASA, etc)
Successful lobbying on
Recognition of the excellence of Florida music programs
Models for and tools to recognize best practices in excellent music programs
Publication of Models and Tools for Building Quality Music Programs
Music Experience for members schools…which are safe, equitable, and fiscally sound.
FSMA provides a student/chaperon accident insurance policy (as a secondary insurer) for all sanctioned events
Rules and Regulations for Interscholastic Music Activities are published to the component associations and member schools and are posted on the website.
FSMA initiated a committee of the component associations which resulted in the Adjudicator Certification rules now included in the Rules and Regulations.
FSMA ensures that Music Performance Assessment financial matters are managed in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices.
How do FSMA and FMEA interact for lobbying the legislature and state government?
FSMA represents school music programs – that is, FSMA represents the students in programs. This is a strong position to present, as FMEA is the representative of member teachers. Since the goals of both associations are to encourage thriving music programs, it is advantageous for them to work cooperatively on advocacy
Since 2003-2004, FSMA and FMEA have contracted directly with Capitol Hill Group for lobbying services.