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Band boosters and parents urge board to restore assistant director after-school days, warn stipend replacement is insufficient
Summary
Band boosters and parents told the board that converting an assistant band director’s after-school contractual days to a stipend risks reducing program capacity for a band that expects more than 200 students next year; speakers asked the board to restore contract days.
Several parents and boosters urged the board to restore after‑school contract days for the Jefferson High School assistant band director rather than convert the role to a stipend.
"The assistant band director position is crucial to our band… We have over 200 members in this coming year, for this upcoming year. That's a 20% increase from last year," Lance Bailey, vice president of the Jefferson High School Band Boosters, told the board. Bailey said the assistant director regularly contributes to rehearsals, administrative work and student support and that converting contractual days to a stipend would diminish the role's effectiveness.
Rory Toth added that Miss Elliott puts in "approximately 50 to 60 hours in addition to her daily work schedule" and questioned whether a stipend would adequately compensate the time and specialized skills required. Public commenters also said that booster support has replaced some district funding (about $20,000 historically) and that additional cuts could affect band camp, parades and other student opportunities.
Board members heard the comments but did not vote to reverse the staffing decision at the meeting; staff said details on any stipend amount had not yet been provided to the public.
