Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Band reorganized, directors angry

Despite strenuous objections from both of the schools band directors, the Gurdon School Board has voted to uphold a previous decision to expand the high school band to grades seven through 12.

For several years, the Gurdon High School band has consisted of students in grades nine through 12, but the number of students participating in band has continued to decrease in recent years. During the current school year, there have been only 24 students in the high school band, according to numbers released during the school boards meeting on Tuesday, May 10.

The small number of students participating in our high school band has become a major concern, Superintendent Bobby Smithson said in a letter to both band directors.

The contracts for the two band directors were renewed with the stipulation that seventh and eighth grade students would be moved up to the high school band.

We first thought we should eliminate the position of assistant band director, the letter said. We can reduce staff if we think it is to the best interest of our school system, but made the decision to move up the seventh and eighth grade students on a trail basis.

While addressing the board, assistant band director Bruce Burson said the problem with enrollment in band is a simple scheduling conflict. He said students are forced to make a choice between band, athletics or choir.

Anytime you have band going up against athletics in Gurdon, band is going to lose, he said.

Because of the scheduling conflict, he said only three students moved up from the middle school to the high school band this year.

Burson pointed out several reasons why he thinks the seventh grade should not be moved up to the high school band. He said the it is difficult to get students in that age group to show up for summer practice, ball games and other required events. He also said the younger students could become cause dissent within the band as older students would be upset if the younger and less experienced students cause the high school band to become less competitive.

Winning is everything to these students, he said.

Band director Allen Wimberly echoed many of Bursons arguments and added that he wanted to compromise with board members. He said that he would willingly accept eighth grade students into the high school band, but he would like to keep seventh grade on a lower level.

I think we can still be competitive with eighth through 12, he said.

Wimberly said a band composed of students in grade eight through 12 would result in about a 40 person band in the upcoming school year. There would be an estimated 60 students in the band if it were composed of grades seven through 12.

If you go seven through 12, youre simply going to have numbers, he said. I dont know of a school in the state with grades seven through 12 (in band) making first division. You dont have to be a big band to be good.

Wimberly said he does not have enough uniforms to outfit 60 students. Smithson disagreed, stating that the band had recently purchased 70 new uniforms.

Wimberly said the new uniforms were purchased to fit students in grades nine through 12. He also noted that the band does not have enough chairs or music stands for 60 students.

Board member Gina Robbins disagreed with Wimberlys reasoning.

We shouldnt limit our kids on that, she said of the lack of supplies.

Robbins added that the board members have received a lot of questions from the public as to why the band has gotten so small.

The band directors continued to debate the issue with the board for several more minutes.

I hope that you would know that we are really knowledgeable and that we know whats best for our kids, Wimberly said. I hope to have a 60 piece band some day, but I hope its grades eight through 12.

Smithson urged the board to stay with the stipulations already placed in the band directors contracts as they were only asking them to try the new arrangement.

If they cant do it, well find someone who will, Smithson said.

The board voted unanimously to uphold its previous decision.

I hope youre going to support me with the constraints we have now, Wimberly said.

A band parent in attendance at the meeting continued the debate after the boards vote.

I cant believe youre not willing to compromise with him, she said.

I cant either, Wimberly said as he left the room.