By Brenda Sexton, The Courier-Herald

The White River High School administration’s move to take away the split block from scheduling has hit a sour note with band parents who were at the school board's March 10 meeting trying to drum up support.

"They're taking away those things that they are so passionate about," said Cecelia Brown, who has a student in the middle school program who listens to Glenn Miller and Al Hurt. She told the board jazz music is the fabric of American history and students have enough trouble fitting in music program and getting in all the credits needed for graduation and college admission.

Brown was among a handful of parents who gathered at the last minute to converge on the board and ask it to intervene with the high school administration's plan to do away with the split block scheduling.

White River High currently divides class periods into four 85-minute blocks of time. Some courses like foreign language, band, choir and weight lifting are allowed to hold classes in shortened 40-minute periods (or split blocks) to allow students to take more classes for an entire year.

According to the parents, faculty members voted, by a slim margin, to do away with the split blocks for next year.

Parent Tom Jones said it will kill the district's award-winning band program and chase away outstanding teachers like bandleader Mike Osborn.

He based his opinion on research from other schools across the nation who have gone through similar situations. He reminded the board that White River's jazz band finished seventh in the nation at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival and won the Port Townsend competition. He said White River is one of the few schools in the area to offer a percussion class.

"I'm very proud of the program," he said. "Once again, I beg of you, don't kill your band."

Wolfe Schneider, a father, teacher and musician, said the high school band program should be better supported. He said the teen years is when young musicians make the biggest strides. Without a program, he said; the community and students suffer.

Trina Taylor, mother of two students in the district, asked the board to find more band time during the day. She said her son signed up for the arts pathway, but can't seem to find time to take art classes. She said it seems silly her son has to meet with the jazz band at 6:15 a.m. for practice.

Parent Carolyn Norris also voiced her concerns, but for choir.

Board members did not make any decisions, but said they would examine the issue.

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com