Band students, parents air concerns with WCCS school board over program's future
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
What began as a rumor resulted in a larger than expected crowd at the Tuesday evening Whitley County Consolidated School board meeting where parents and students alike came forth asking for answers.
The concern: whether the school system plans to replace the middle school and high school band director positions with just one full-time instructor who would split both responsibilities.
Many of the students and parents in attendance addressed the board directly with their concerns and questions about the future of the Columbia City High School and Indian Springs Middle School band programs.
Nicole Yingst, a sophomore who plays clarinet in the band, said she was concerned about what impact this might have on the music department as a whole. Yingst outlined the many responsibilities for which a band director is accountable and said, “These activities would be most likely lost or not done to their fullest potential if there were one person to oversee everything.”
“I plead that you consider what it is like to lose the one thing you want the most,” Yingst said, urging the school board to keep the program as is. She also asked for an end to the countless rumors she’s heard about the fate of the music program at the middle school and high school levels.
“Rumors are rampant,” a parent said, adding that he knows for a fact that the current band director, Mr. Criss, is leaving, but has heard numerous rumors about what will happen when the time comes to fill that position. “This rumor has been floating around creating anguish and fear. A teacher stretched between two schools cannot do justice to either.”
Brenda Marty, a band booster officer and parent of two sons in band, noted that four out of the top 12 students in the CCHS Class of 2009 have been involved in band. Marty also said that the band has raised $20,000 this year for their own expenses and secured another $5,000 through the Whitley County Community Foundation. She said she was afraid that instability in the program would not give a good message to the community about donating to their cause and asked the board “to make decisions as if they affected your child.”
Lisa Hensler asked the board to consider the way the bands’ fundraising programs have a positive impact on the local business community. All organizations that participate in their fundraising card enjoy the benefit of advertising and customers – all of which might be on the line if the band program ceased to exist. She also spoke of the band members and their families who are actively involved in community events and activities.
“This is not a sit in the classroom group of children,” Hensler said, noting the many parades, community concerts and other activities the band participates in.
Gina Kissinger estimated the cost of a band director at approximately $23,000 and compared the impact of a band director on young musicians to role of a coach in athletics. “Who is it that plays your school song, that gets people fired up, that plays for your teams,” she asked.
A father, Bruce Hazelet, said that although all three of his children are athletes, it was the possible loss of the band program that caused great upset in their household. Hazelet said he was very concerned about the rumors in light of the fact there seems to be no shortage of sports team coaches and no rumors of eliminating any of those programs.
“The band was a huge reason for us staying here,” said Mark Swain who retired from the Air Force. After living in Virginia for many years, they relocated here. “The kids are all great and they deserve a full-time director.”
Taking all the comments under thoughtful advisement, board president Don Armstrong said, “I appreciate your dedication to your cause. We have been discussing this. When our decision has been made, you will be involved.”
“We do appreciate hearing from you,” said Whitley County Consolidated School superintendent Dr. Laura Huffman.