Band vs Football: I need your thoughts. (long post)

[Kitty 34]

I would love to ask my sister how she feels as she is one of the football moms whose son is also in band. However, we (the committee) are not allowed to mention anything until the Emergency Parent Meeting scheduled for Monday night. This is a small town so I'm sure the majority already knows.

I'm enjoying the debate and as I said before being a sports mom for years and just recently band......I really can see both sides. You should have seen me throwing some of your comments "in the fire" at our meeting the other night! I'm SO much quieter here on the DIS!!

At this point my biggest argument (so toss this around please).....Why are we changing or canceling a 160 member trip on a "what if" situtation?? :

 

[Tinijocaro]

But there is also no choice for band members in most schools. Their grade depends upon doing all of the activities.

Yup- band is a curricular activity in the vast majority of schools- part of the curriculum. Football is extra-curricular- not part of the curriculum. Music is a requirement to graduate, football is not.

Jackie

 

[Marla Hellwig]

My son's H.S. WON the Grand Nationals at BOA last year. The football team was mediocre but still got more press. It would be absurd if it weren't so humorous.

CONGRATS to your HS - that is a BIG DEAL. And that is the truth aboiut the press.

For my daughter's HS - this would be not be a big deal - our football team hasn't played well enough for post season games in what like 30 years - but the band on the other hand - is a winner

To play on the football team here - it costs a family about 150.00 - 200.00 per player or so for one year - for a marching band family - it costs per child 400.00 - for one year.

The marching band started their practice schedule right after July 4 - not sure when the football team did - but it wasn't until closer to August when you would see the football team out on the field - the marching band competition schedule was set in stone in July - they started competing back in September and will go through the end of October.

I am sorry your band had to re schedule their honor to march at WDW trip based on maybe the football team will win. I know if I was in your position right now I would be beyond upset/angry. This action is telling those band members that they aren't important enough in the super's eyes.

 

[septbride2002]

That is a real shame that the trip is being postponed and more costly. I can tell you my Mother would have been majorly peeved if this had happened to us. Yes I think your superintendent should be at that meeting.

This thread reminds me of how much I miss high school band competitions. They were always so much fun.

~Amanda

 

[Galahad]

That is a real shame that the trip is being postponed and more costly. I can tell you my Mother would have been majorly peeved if this had happened to us. Yes I think your superintendent should be at that meeting.

This thread reminds me of how much I miss high school band competitions. They were always so much fun.

~Amanda

Amanda,

The Bands of America "Super Regional" is in St. Louis the weekend of 10/21 - 10/22 at the Edward Jones Dome.

 

[monsterkitty]

foolishmortal, I am near your location. my husband is a football coach at a 4A school. He requires his football players who are in band to march the half time show in their football uniforms. The coach and the director work together so that students can do both and not have to choose. All of our coaches do this.

The super should foot the additional costs for the band to travel.

Good luck, Kitty 34!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I agree with some things: the super should foot the extra bill out of any "discretionary funds" the school has--how about all the "extra money" the football team will bring in at this playoff game? Can you imagine the athletic boosters reaction if they gave the money to the band'=="well, it's our fault they had to spend more money"? The boosters where I work would have a big, collective stroke.
I think every band parent should go to that emergency meeting and then complain at the next scheduled school board meeting--a public meeting. And someone should give the media a heads up about the meeting tomorrow night so everyone can see what your super is doing. Many may agree with him, but people need to know how things work in your district. Perhaps at contract renewal time if people are still unhappy, they can let the elected school board members know in case they need to "go in a different direction".
BTW, no school district in this country could cut softball, volleyball, field hockey and not football. There is a little thing called Title IX that says girls must have the same or comparable opportunities as boys, regardless of revenue generated.
Robin M.

 

[Kitty 34]

I agree with some things: the super should foot the extra bill out of any "discretionary funds" the school has--how about all the "extra money" the football team will bring in at this playoff game? Can you imagine the athletic boosters reaction if they gave the money to the band'=="well, it's our fault they had to spend more money"? The boosters where I work would have a big, collective stroke.
I think every band parent should go to that emergency meeting and then complain at the next scheduled school board meeting--a public meeting. And someone should give the media a heads up about the meeting tomorrow night so everyone can see what your super is doing. Many may agree with him, but people need to know how things work in your district. Perhaps at contract renewal time if people are still unhappy, they can let the elected school board members know in case they need to "go in a different direction".
BTW, no school district in this country could cut softball, volleyball, field hockey and not football. There is a little thing called Title IX that says girls must have the same or comparable opportunities as boys, regardless of revenue generated.
Robin M.

If I'm not mistaken at least here in Michigan...our schools don't make any money during playoffs, the state does.

 

[Pinnie]

If I'm not mistaken at least here in Michigan...our schools don't make any money during playoffs, the state does.

I think you are correct. Last time our HS team went to the playoffs the Booster Club wasn't even allowed to hold the 50/50 raffle it does during regular games!

pinnie

 

[EthansMom]

If I was a parent of one of the band members, I would probably be pretty upset at (1) being expected to fork over $100 more per child for the trip and (2) having the trip shortened by two days and (3) getting no say in the matter.

In my opinion, the band should plan on going on the trip without the 10 members of the football team. There will likely be enough notice of whether the football team makes it to State or not that the extra rooms/bus for those 10 players could be cancelled without penalty, if necessary. I definitely would look into when notice is given regarding which teams are going to State and what is the latest date for cancelling plans without incurring a penalty.

 

[disney4us2002]

Wow, I can't wait to check back in after tomorrow night's meeting. As someone from page 1 or 2 pointed out, this sends a very clear message that band is 2nd to sports and that is just not right. I would love to be a fly on the wall during the meeting. Not only will the parents have to fork over extra money within 12 days but they will probably have to take additional vacation days from work. I know with the state I already have Thanksgiving and the day after off but the following week would require all vacation days.

I think it should've been put to a vote rather than the Superintendent just unilaterally deciding based on a "what if" scenario - the season isn't even at the halfway point yet, is it? It sounds like maybe your band director caved.

 

[Anne34]

I think I would be upset with the date changes. My daughters band is playing in Tennesse this spring. We already have our travel arrangements made. We want to see the band play and perform -- many other parents do too. Last year they went to DW & many families went -- now they have to change airfare, hotels, etc.... not to mention days off to go --- I would NOT be happy. I have one son in sports and have to say he would stay home with his team IF they made the final play offs.

 

[disney4us2002]

Kitty, did the meeting happen? How did the parents and kids take the news?

 

[RadioFanatic]

At this point my biggest argument (so toss this around please).....Why are we changing or canceling a 160 member trip on a "what if" situtation?? :

especially since it is a what if situation for only 10 out of 160 kids- they're willing to put out 150 kids for 10? must be nice.

 

[Kitty 34]

Kitty, did the meeting happen? How did the parents and kids take the news?

It's just a mess. The Super just stood there while our band director stumbled thru the feeble reasons why the trip was going to be changed. Where's a chicken smilie face when you need one?? (For the super)

Th band director kept sugar coating things so much that the parents really didn't "growl" at the time of the meeting but boy are they growilng today!!

Ironically my sister (the Football mom) called me today and demanded who changed the trip because of the football moms and their sons. She is furious as is the other 9 football player/band moms. They don't even want to change things especially because for one they don't think their team is THAT good to go that far in the playoffs.

It didn't help when the director said that nobody's bus $$ could be refunded if for some reason they couldn't make the "new" trip scheduled. I was was SO surprised the rotten tomatoes weren't flying at this point last night.

Like I said....it's a mess, I'm exhausted from the whole head trip (no pun intended) but thanks for asking. I will keep you informed.

 

[septbride2002]

Like I said parents are going to get peeved about this whole mess. If this was my old school district people would be writing to the local paper about it. Not to mention to the school board members who hire and fire the superintendent.

Galahad - thanks but we have friends in from out of town that weekend who are not band people so I will miss it

~Amanda