ir chance to perform
By FRANK HARTZELL, Staff Writer —
Among the esoteric references in the song, “American Pie,” is the line “the players tried to take the field but the marching band refused to yield.”
In Fort Bragg, it”s the marching band, along with other school bands, which are currently unable to take to the football field or any other public venues. The Advocate-News received complaints about this following the failure of bands to appear in the Paul Bunyan Days Parade.
The reason students aren”t performing remains obscure even after interviews with both the district superintendent and the band leader.
Scott Black, who has taught band classes for the past three years in all the district”s schools states he was not offered the after-school position this year.
Black says that responsibility comes with a stipend, like other extracurricular activities. He says the after-school gig went to someone else, but he doesn”t know whom.
“I love performing. However, I have not been hired as the after-school band director. There are some people who are disappointed; I am among those people,” said Black.
A flier dropped off at the Advocate-News asked locals who are upset about the policy to contact the district office.
“New school board policy prevents all band performances for Fort Bragg high and middle schools, Dana Gray and three Rivers School including the marching band in the parade and football games and also the jazz band dinner dances. This new policy is wrong. Voice your disapproval to the school board members at: www.fbusd.org or call the district office at 707-961-2850,” the flier states.
FBUSD Superintendent Don Armstrong denies the sound of silence is a school board policy. Just the opposite, he says. Armstrong said the issue is a personnel matter which he cannot discuss in public.
“There is no such policy. We have a situation, but not a policy. Our intent is to have a band playing at public events. We believe that it will be very soon,” said Armstrong.
Black teaches the jazz band class and wind ensemble at Fort Bragg High School. At the middle school, his classes include teaching intermediate and concert band. There are also two Dana Gray Elementary band classes he teaches.
Even Black does not claim school board policy is to blame.
Armstrong said he couldn”t respond to Black”s claim that he was not offered the same after-school position this year as he was last year. The high school jazz band plays dinner venues, while the marching band and middle school concert band normally play sporting events and rallies.
