Parents and program directors tell Weaver Union board shipping container won’t work for performing-arts and band storage

Performing-arts teachers and band boosters told the Weaver Union Board at public comment that a proposed move of sets, costumes and instruments into a shipping container would damage materials and impede programs.

Preeti Piazza, a fifth‑grade teacher at Pioneer Elementary School, said the performing-arts program learned this week it must relocate its storage from a classroom (described by speakers as roughly 40 by 24 feet) into a shipping container roughly 40 by 8 feet. "You cannot put things that fit in 24 by, 40 into 8 by 40," Piazza said, adding that some set pieces are 8 feet tall and would not fit. She questioned why program directors and boosters were not consulted and asked the district to consider climate‑controlled classroom space at another campus instead.

Elizabeth Harmelin, who identified herself as incoming band booster president, described instruments and electronic equipment as "very heat sensitive" and said shipping containers can reach extremely high interior temperatures (she cited research suggesting interiors can reach about 140°F). Harmelin suggested alternative storage such as a stage area or another classroom and offered volunteer help to prepare an alternate space.

The speakers said props often include glued materials and Styrofoam that will degrade from repeated summer heat, and they urged district staff to find a solution that preserves equipment and materials.

What’s next: Board members acknowledged the comments; no facilities action was taken during the meeting. The matter was raised publicly; staff did not present a finalized facilities plan at the meeting. The consent agenda was adjusted elsewhere in the meeting to correct personnel listing errors raised by commenters.