Cutting Marching From Highland Marching Band
TIETON -- In a time of school budget cuts, parents at Highland High thought the school's decision to cut the marching band was about money. It was not. KIMA learned the marching could be cut because administrators say the band is just no good.
Members of the Highland High School marching band admit they're not national contenders.
"Three years ago, yeah we sucked, but we've improved," said Drum Major Dyana Wilkinson.
Wilkinson said the band recently won a gold medal at the Lilac Parade for marching and that’s not the only award.
"We've brought home trophies before from our competitions,” said Wilkinson. “They aren't first place or anything, but they are not nothing."
This week, the Highland School Board announced plans to eliminate marching during halftime shows as well as marching competitions. So, instead of marching and playing the kids would have to stand in place. Parents said they were told it was because the marching just wasn't very good.
Becky Craig has had three kids in the program with one in the marching band now.
"I would find it embarrassing to have my kids out there standing still playing when people know, that most bands march," she said.
The principal told KIMA this wasn't done to embarrass the kids, but to get more students involved.
"This is a way we think we can try to retain kids because we lose a significant amount of kids between the beginning of 8th and end of 9th grade," said Principal Thorson.
That's because the marching part of band performance begins in 8th grade. Principal Thorson thinks kids quit because of this new challenge, and if they only stood in place, they may be more likely to keep performing. Students told Action News kids usually quit when they become "too cool" for band.
Since KIMA started covering the story school leaders backpedaled a bit. They are now try to find a way to keep the Highland High School band, marching.
Members of the Highland High School marching band admit they're not national contenders.
"Three years ago, yeah we sucked, but we've improved," said Drum Major Dyana Wilkinson.
Wilkinson said the band recently won a gold medal at the Lilac Parade for marching and that’s not the only award.
"We've brought home trophies before from our competitions,” said Wilkinson. “They aren't first place or anything, but they are not nothing."
This week, the Highland School Board announced plans to eliminate marching during halftime shows as well as marching competitions. So, instead of marching and playing the kids would have to stand in place. Parents said they were told it was because the marching just wasn't very good.
Becky Craig has had three kids in the program with one in the marching band now.
"I would find it embarrassing to have my kids out there standing still playing when people know, that most bands march," she said.
The principal told KIMA this wasn't done to embarrass the kids, but to get more students involved.
"This is a way we think we can try to retain kids because we lose a significant amount of kids between the beginning of 8th and end of 9th grade," said Principal Thorson.
That's because the marching part of band performance begins in 8th grade. Principal Thorson thinks kids quit because of this new challenge, and if they only stood in place, they may be more likely to keep performing. Students told Action News kids usually quit when they become "too cool" for band.
Since KIMA started covering the story school leaders backpedaled a bit. They are now try to find a way to keep the Highland High School band, marching.
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