Board approves Bingham High marching band trip to Pearl Harbor; adds a travel day

The Jordan School District Board of Education voted unanimously on Feb. 24 to approve Bingham High School’s request to send its marching band to the National Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade and commemorative events in Hawaii in early December.

Sean McLeod, principal of Bingham High School, told the board the invitation was extended by the Pearl Harbor commemoration committee and would allow band students to perform at memorial-week events and on the USS Missouri. McLeod described fundraising plans: the trip would raise costs substantially above the program’s usual California trip and is estimated at just under $3,000 per student in total; staff estimated an additional roughly $1,200 on top of the normal touring costs, and asked the board to approve one additional travel day for the experience.

Band director Darren Graber said fundraising plans will include community events, business sponsorship and student-level campaigns; staff and parent meetings will follow board approval. McLeod said the band will seek strong parental support before committing, aiming to secure roughly 85% parent opt-in for the ensemble; if that threshold is not met, the school would revert to its backup California trip.

Board members asked how fundraising and chaperone ratios would work. Administrators confirmed chaperone ratios follow district policy (1:10 suggested) and that the overnight-travel exception is the formal mechanism required under district policy AA 4 1 4.

Dr. Robinson made the motion to approve the request and Ms. Wood seconded it; the chair called for the vote and the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: staff will assist Bingham High with parent notifications, a public presentation for families and required permission processes before the trip is finalized.