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Parents urge stronger support for band and arts as district honors Mark Spencer at renamed Westside Theater
Summary
At the Sept. 9 meeting the board honored Mark Spencer with the renaming of Westside Theater; parents and students used the public comment period to urge the district to give the band and performing arts programs more resources and recognition.
The board held a naming ceremony recognizing the Westside Theater as the Mark Spencer Westside Theater and heard multiple public comments urging greater support for arts programs.
Charice White read a plaque honoring Spencer's work in the community and schools, describing his 30‑plus years of service teaching television production and creating performance opportunities for students. Mark Spencer and family members accepted the recognition; Spencer thanked the district and community during brief remarks.
During public comment, band parents and students urged the board to prioritize the music and performing arts programs. Dawn Jones, a band parent, said the band is "being overlooked," citing needs for clean uniforms and instruments and that concession fundraising had been restricted. "We feel that the band is being overlooked," Jones said, asking what the district can do to highlight band and drama "just as well as we highlight everything else in the school."
Neola Wilson and student Jenny Jones echoed the concern, saying arts students sacrifice time and effort and asking for equitable recognition and opportunities. The public commenters identified Deandre (Teamer/Taylor in the transcript) as the staff member leading the band and credited recent valedictorians and college exposure to the program.
The board acknowledged the speakers; district staff highlighted upcoming parent advisory councils and 'parent power hour' sessions as ways for families to engage and offered to post resources and opportunities on the district website.
