Board approves Western International Band Clinic travel and OKs exploration of Pearl Harbor parade trip
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Summary
The board approved out-of-state travel for three Marshfield high-school students to the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle and authorized band director John Cruz to pursue fundraising and planning for a possible Pearl Harbor Day Parade trip in December 2026.
The Coos Bay SD 9 board unanimously approved a request from John Cruz, Marshfield High School band director, to take three students to the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) in Seattle and agreed to let Cruz begin fundraising and planning for a possible Pearl Harbor Day Parade trip in December 2026.
“I come to you with two asks tonight,” John Cruz said in his presentation, asking permission to take Nico Tucker, Britney Herrera and Danica Gavin to the honor-band event in Seattle. Student Nico Tucker described the experience as competitive and intensive: “Basically, it’s a western honor band … you have to audition to get in,” she said.
Board members moved and seconded the out-of-state travel request and voted in favor. Cruz later described a preliminary plan to pursue fundraising and logistics for a larger trip to Hawaii to march in the Pearl Harbor Day Parade on Dec. 7, 2026; he said the trip would likely involve 40–60 students and requires additional fundraising.
Board members supported Cruz’s request to investigate the possibility and noted the board does not expect a formal vote until specific costs and funding sources are identified. Several members recommended staged performances and opportunities for the band to build toward a parade-level event.
No budget allocation or fundraising commitments were approved at the meeting; Cruz was authorized to pursue potential sponsors and report back with a proposed plan and costs for board consideration.