Is the future of Lester Prairie band in jeopardy?

[LyndaJensen]

As of March 11, there were only 8 students registered for Senior Band (grades 9-12) next year in Lester Prairie -- due largely to scheduling conflicts. Students who want to stay in band or choir apparently feel they need to take a different class that is required for college entry, such as Spanish II, Computer Applications, Vertebrates, Accounting, etc. Is this true? Are you a parent with this problem?

[MrsC]

The first point I'd like to make is that we have great administrators at Lester Prairie. I have a deep respect for them, and I certainly do not want them to be the targets of verbal assault regarding this issue (I now feel a little guilty that I started a discussion forum on my page of the school's website, because I'm normally the go-with-the-flow, roll-with-the-punches type, not one to rock the boat). Mr. Fitzsimonds has given me some great suggestions for improvement, which I have begun to implement, and I disagree with those who feel he's not supporting the band program-- he's a good mentor as a former band director, and he wants the band to be as successful as possible. He has a job to do, and doing whatever the band director wants is definitely not part of his job. And Mr. Miller is an awesome superintendent-- I trust him (as we all should) to do what's best for the school.

Happily, it turns out that part of the problem with there only being 8 students signed up for Sr. Band next year was that not all of the students had turned in their registration forms by the deadline. I asked in Jr. Band how many of the 8th graders planned to be in band next year, and 10 or 11 of the 13 raised their hands, so we'll at least have a decent number of freshmen next year (whew!). However, we'll have very few upperclassmen in band, so we'll still have a total of only 14-18. After talking with the administration, I understand that other schools (especially those with 6-period days like ours) also have a problem with students not being able to take all of the electives they want, and that it boils down to which electives they want the most. But it's not like they're dropping band to take Basket-Weaving or Thumb-Twiddling 101; they're feeling the need (not just desire) to take important classes that I will want my own kids to take someday-- I'll want them to take upper-level math and science, 2 years of Spanish, Computer Applications, AND stay in band, which won't be possible under the current schedule. I understand that a 7-period day is not feasible for Lester Prairie at this point, but I will continue to hope that more people will begin to support it and that it will be seriously considered someday when finances allow. I also submitted an idea for a homeroom period (you can see the details and advantages at http://www.lp.k12.mn.us, under "activities & athletics", then "band & choir"-- click "discussion forum", then "more" at the end of the schedule topic, then "idea"), which I hope will be considered, since it would have very positive possibilities for all students, not just band members, and would be inexpensive, if not cost-free (but, again, I will fully respect Mr. Miller's decision if he feels it's not in the best interest of the school).

I love the 16-member band I have this year-- we've become like a family, and I thoroughly enjoy working with them and am very proud of them. However, it's very difficult to be the only player on your part, and stressful to have to worry about what we'll do if even ONE of them is sick the day of a concert. It would be nice if everyone who wanted to be in band could be in band AND take the other electives they want, so I'll keep wishin' and hopin', and if anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please let me know. Thank you for your support!