Parents urge Kennewick district to install lights at Southridge marching‑band practice area for student safety

A Southridge Music Boosters representative pressed the Kennewick School District board to address unsafe conditions where the marching band practices.

Shantel Arnold told the board she represents 60 marching band students and their parents and described the side‑of‑school drainage area the band uses for rehearsal as dark, periodically under active sprinklers and a safety concern. "This side area is dark at night, and it's a safety concern," she said, adding that at least two students have been injured there.

Arnold said the band has raised money and parents have donated, but she described inconsistent follow‑through from school administrators and asked that a light be installed before the marching season begins in August so students can continue to participate in this credit‑bearing fine‑arts class. She said the boosters are willing to help fund the project and asked for board support and district follow‑up.

The chair acknowledged the comment and the district later discussed asset‑preservation and capital project tracking, noting lighting could be captured as a capital improvement and that staff (Eric Bruce) had been working on related items.

Quoted from the meeting: "We have been working on this. I personally have been working on this for 3 years to get a light on the side of the school," Arnold said, asking the board to prioritize the request.

Speakers quoted or cited: Shantel Arnold (Southridge Music Boosters) and district staff referenced in the asset‑preservation conversation.