Marching band students at Southridge High School in Kennewick, Washington, reported unsafe practice conditions after their ensemble was moved from a grassy field to a parking lot at the start of the school year. AppleValleyNewsNow.com reported that the Kennewick School District said the school’s administration and the band director agreed to the move because the regular field lacked lighting for evening rehearsals.
Students told the outlet that the parking lot contained speed bumps, light poles and slanted pavement, making it difficult to practice. Drum major Sophia Arnold said the lot was full of cars, complicating rehearsals. The situation escalated on Sept. 22 when two varsity sports games coincided with band practice. Students alleged that the school’s athletic director reduced the practice area to accommodate more parking, and drivers came closer to students than intended, according to the district.
The district confirmed the incident, calling it a one-time situation, and said staff met with a parent who raised concerns. Marching band practice has since returned to the field, where temporary lights were installed. Students created a petition calling for the athletic director to be investigated and removed from overseeing the fine arts department. The district said the field cannot currently support permanent lighting power requirements.
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