Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Smithson asks board to reconsider band move

The reorganization of the Gurdon High School band has once again become an issue for the Gurdon School Board, however, this time the request to reconsider came from an unlikely source  Superintendent Bobby Smithson.

Ive given this a lot of thought, Smithson said during the boards meeting on Tuesday, July 17.

The board had decided previously to reorganize the high school band by adding grades seven and eight to the group. The boards reasoning was to increase the number of students participating. Approximately 20 student were in the high school band during the 2006-2007 school year.

After the boards initial decision, the board has been addressed by both of the districts band directors as well as a group of band parent. Both groups made passionate pleas for the board to reverse its decision. The band directors cited the lack of maturity and musical knowledge by the seventh grade students.

Throughout the process, Smithson and the board have been adamant that they will not reconsider their decision. They said they are only asking the band directors and students to try the new organization.

During the meeting on Tuesday, Smithson stated his reasons for asking the board to reconsider its decision one last time. He said that the band directors have convinced the band members and parents that the boards action will destroy the band for the upcoming school year. He said it bothers him that the controversy could cause some of the older students to drop out of the band.

Im disappointed in our band directors, he said. Theyve really bad mouthed us, and I know that for fact.

Smithson said he does not understand the problems with having the younger students in the high school band because several other schools follow this practice. He said he also does not understand why the band directors are unwilling to try under the new structure.

After all, I think were theyre bosses even if they dont think so, he said.

Another concern the band directors have cited when arguing against the restructuring of the band is the bands recent success at marching competition. They have said that adding younger and inexperienced musicians to the band will hurt their chances of receiving superior ratings at contests.

My goals for the bands are different than theirs are, Smithson said. He noted that only band parents travel to see the band when it competes in marching contests, but all of the Go-Devil fans see the band on the field at football games. He said the fans want to see a bigger band.

I just dont understand why we cant have bigger numbers, he said. I feel the same way about our football team. Id like to have 50 on the football team if we could.

Smithson said another reason he had originally proposed the reorganization is because older students are often less able to participate in band and other activities due to after school jobs.

I think were going to have to focus on younger kids to have the numbers there, he said.

After making a final request for the board to resend its decision, Smithson asked for input from the board.

To me I think its insubordination, board member Charles Bullard said of the band directors alleged actions. He said that he expects the band directors to at least try and comply with the boards requests before saying it will not work.

Board member Ronnie Lasker said he agreed with the boards decision to reorganize the band. He said that the band lost several outstanding musicians who graduated in May, and the 2007 season would be a time of rebuilding for it anyway.

Despite the need to rebuild, Lasker said students and others would likely blame the school board if the bands quality was significantly decreased.

Board member Debbi Caldwells comments were short. I marched in the seventh grade, she said.

The board took no action on the matter, allowing its previous orders to reorganize the band in place.