Elizabethtown parents, students press board after district reduces marching‑band buses

Elizabethtown Area School District administrators say they cut the number of buses that transport the high‑school marching band to away games to reduce district costs. Students, parents and band leaders told the school board at the Aug. 12 workshop that the reduction — from five buses in prior years down to three this season — will not physically accommodate 106 band members, 22 cheerleaders and their instruments and uniforms.

The dispute escalated into a packed public‑comment period in which band parents and student leaders described logistics on the buses and demanded the district either restore a bus or demonstrate a safe alternative before the first away game on Aug. 29. “If transportation is reduced to the point where emergency response is compromised … a dangerous situation is being created that can be fully avoided,” parent Jessica Schraeber told the board.

Administrators defended the change as part of a wider budget review. The finance chair and administration reported that standard school buses carry 48 riders each and that a seat normally counts for two high‑school students for daily transport calculations. The administration concluded the band and cheerleader rosters could be consolidated onto fewer vehicles, supplemented by a 9‑passenger van and an equipment trailer; they estimated a rough fuel/vehicle cost saving of about $500 per bus per trip, which they projected would amount to several thousand dollars across the season.

Band leaders and chaperones said the math omits instruments, garment bags and hat boxes that occupy seats and aisles. Drum‑line captain Dominic Hemch showed the board his calculations and the band’s equipment footprint and said the band routinely needs more seat space than a simple headcount implies: “There are 24 seats on a standard school bus … if we take half of a bus out for the cheerleaders that puts us at 50 available seats for the band … we would need at least 53 seats to house everyone.”

District staff and building administrators described options they are pursuing. East High Principal Dr. D’Amico said he and the band director discussed contingency steps, suggested running a dry‑run loading exercise to test three buses before the first away game, and said the district was exploring donated trailers or retrofit options that do not require drivers with commercial licenses. “Until we actually get those three buses and see where things fit, we may not know,” D’Amico said. Superintendent Dr. Nell told the board she was contacting local businesses for possible equipment donations and would coordinate with transportation to conduct a practice loading.

Board members repeatedly asked the administration for more data and for a short timetable. Several board members urged patience and a “dry run” before inviting the community to judge whether three buses, vans and the trailer will safely carry students and equipment. Parents and students asked the board to prioritize restoring travel so the band can attend away games and perform in front of traveling audiences. A number of speakers noted the marching band is curricular (a graded class), grows district morale and that cutting away‑game transportation would reduce students’ co‑curricular opportunities.

The board took no immediate vote to reverse the administrative decision during the workshop. Members instead pressed administration to arrange the dry run, to report back with verified loading tests and cost comparisons, and to continue exploring donated trailers or alternative funding to avoid removing away‑game travel from the band season.

Community members who testified urged swift action. Parent chaperone Jennifer Creason described typical bus loading plans for a 106‑member band and the safety procedures chaperones use to keep aisles clear; other parents described the effect on student morale and recruitment if away games are curtailed. The district said it will run the dry test and report back to the board; administrators said they expect the first practical check before the first away game late this month.

What happens next: The administration agreed to schedule a bus‑loading dry run and to solicit a donated trailer if possible; the board and administration asked band leaders to participate so the district can evaluate the feasibility of three buses plus vans and trailer. If the dry run shows unsafe crowding, the district said it will revise the plan and report back to the board immediately.

Ending note: The dispute underscores tension between school budget constraints and program logistics. Band families asked the board for a clear timeline and for the district to prioritize student safety while seeking modest cost savings elsewhere.