TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Members of the marching band lined the halls of Two Rivers High School Wednesday night, protesting a proposal by the school board to cut the band director position by 50%.
After seeing the demonstration, the school board decided to no longer pursue the proposed cuts to the band director position. An email sharing the board’s decision was sent to students and parents.
Dear Band and Music Students,
The school board has carefully reviewed the band position and has decided to keep it as a full-time role. They were deeply impressed by your respectful presentation tonight, as well as your unwavering passion and support for the band program, demonstrated through your posters, emails, and letters. The manner in which you all presented yourselves truly reflects your dedication, thoughtfulness, and commitment to the success of the band program, and it played a significant role in the board’s decision.
Sincerely,
The Board of Education, Mr. Engh, and Mrs. Johnson
Before the board made this decision, Dominick Springstube, a member of the drumline, shared why he came to protest.
“If this goes through, we would be losing so much of this program. Ms. Honeck does not deserve this, the band does not deserve this. Ms. Honeck spent the last five years building this band to be what it is today, and we cannot lose that.”
Springstube has been in band since fifth grade and plans to pursue a career in music.
“It’s more than just a class. I spend more than 50% of my day down in the music department,” he said.
Even those not involved in band joined their classmates in a show of support.
“I just think the band is so important to the school as a whole,” said Micah Logan. “I am a prominent member of the choir, and they’re right across from us, so I just feel like this is also our fight.”
Parents have also been vocal in sharing support for the band online, like Heidi Springstube.
“Music is everything. We have music at the football games, we have music, everywhere,” she told us. “We have the pit orchestra for our musicals, it’s everywhere. Music is in our schools from middle school all the way up to high school, beyond to college.”
