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Parents and students urge board to reverse rule that barred outside high-school students from Battery Creek band
Summary
Eleven public commenters, including students, parents and booster leaders, urged the board to reverse a district decision that prevents non‑Battery Creek students from participating in Battery Creek High School's HBCU-style marching band. Speakers said seven students were excluded, cited scholarship outcomes and asked for reconsideration; the board noted confusion about whether a December vote had taken place.
A large, emotional public-comment period Aug. 13 focused on the Battery Creek High School marching band after parents and students said a district policy change barred outside high-school students from participating.
Multiple speakers said the action affects students who joined Battery Creek band because their home high schools lack comparable marching opportunities. "With this rule being put in place, this has caused us to lose 7 band members," said student Dagmar Levine, and several parents described scholarship outcomes tied to band participation. Band booster president Jamie Finley Scriven said parents were told a board decision in December 2023 created the restriction and urged the board to "please reverse" that decision and meet with families.
Parents and students described the band as a place of mentorship and opportunity and warned the change could remove scholarship and college-preparation pathways. One parent said the district now charges $250 in band fees and that many families cannot absorb additional barriers.
Board members and staff later addressed the record: a board member said he reviewed minutes and found no evidence of a formal board vote in December. "The board never took [a] vote," a speaker said during the meeting's closing discussion, and the chair asked staff to correct misinformation. The board did not take immediate formal action on the band issue at the Aug. 13 meeting; several members encouraged staff to follow up and requested a factual record on when and how the policy was implemented.
Provenance: Public comments on band began at SEG 2037 and continued through SEG 2633.
