Perryville's St. Vincent is fourth overall in competition to fund programs

Matthew Prost's tuba that he plays for the St. Vincent de Paul High School band has seen better days. It's dented and scratched. But it's had a good run since it was bought by the school in 1937.

Prost is hopeful his instrument will be replaced soon.

"A new one would have better sound quality," he said.

That could happen, if his school receives enough votes.

St. Vincent de Paul schools are fourth nationwide right now in a grant competition sponsored by the Clorox company. If they win the overall competition, the school could receive $50,000 toward renovating its music rooms and buying new equipment.

The Clorox company's grant program, known as Power a Bright Future, awards four $25,000 grants and one $50,000 grant to help fund programs in schools that are vital for educational development, according to the company.

St. Vincent de Paul schools are in the running for a grant with much larger schools in sizable communities in California and Texas, said Bill Fischer, the school's band director, who has been heading the campaign for public votes to support a win by the school.

The school would use the $50,000 grant to renovate the choir and band rooms for high school students, upgrade equipment, buy new band instruments and create a larger classroom for elementary music students. A $25,000 grant would allow them to likely do the renovations on the choir room, where Fischer said there needs to be updated lighting and acoustics, and widen the entrance to the band room, where students can't fit some of their equipment through a narrow doorway. Lack of space is a main problem for the choir and band programs, which have a combined 160 students from the elementary and high school, Fischer said.

"It's really cramped," said Taylor Klein, a sophomore band member. "We really need more storage and more room for our instruments."

Votes from the public for the school are the way to win, said Sister Marilyn Schneider, who directs the choir. Students, school staff and parents have been campaigning hard to gain votes for the school since voting began in October. As of Wednesday, they had more than 53,000, but another school is closing in fast, Schneider said.

The school networked with the local chamber of commerce, businesses and music departments in area high schools and Southeast Missouri State University to spread the word that they are seeking votes, Schneider said.

"The fact we are in the mix of the top five means we have had unbelievable support from the community. Now we are getting emails and support from all over the country. It's great," said Fischer. But it's not over yet, he said, and students and staff are holding their breath and hoping people will come out of the woodwork even more to vote. Students created a YouTube video to draw attention to their campaign for the grants. Winners will be announced in January.

The video is viewable online by visiting YouTube.com and typing "St. Vincent promotional Clorox video" in the search box. Votes can be cast by texting "clorox3605" to 44144, or online at http://www.powerabrightfuture.com and typing "Perryville" in the location search box. Voting ends Dec. 9.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address: