A group of McIntosh High School band booster parents spoke at the June 17 meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education to offer their opinions about what they said was a bad decision to have band practice moved to a school parking lot.
McIntosh Principal Lisa Fine on Thursday said a final determination on the practice area will be forthcoming after she meets with the band director and with parents to discuss options.
The group of band booster parents speaking during the public comments portion of the school board meeting surfaced a number of concerns about what they said was a decision by Fine to have band practice relocated from the ball fields to a front parking lot.
While parents said they hope Fine will reconsider, they cited concerns such as excessive heat coming off asphalt, the possibility of heat exhaustion, parking lot obstacles including light poles and vehicular traffic and community noise that could be disruptive to the neighborhood.
While noting that three other high schools hold band practice in parking lots, parents said those parking lots are isolated and are away from traffic and do not contain the obstacles found at McIntosh.
Parents also said they were told that holding band practice on the fields is destroying the turf. Parents said they disagreed with that position.
Contacted Thursday, Fine said the administration is continuing in the effort to work with the band director and band boosters to ensure the band has a safe, viable practice area to promote its continued success.
Fine said she met previously with band booster parents and is scheduling meetings for early July with the band director and with band boosters to review options pertaining to band practice areas.
Fine said the final decision will be made prior to the time the band begins practicing in mid-July.
