Band lobbies for travel policy change

If the Columbia Falls girls basketball team makes it to the state tournament in Hamilton, the pep band will be in the stands playing the school song. But if the boys team makes it to the state tournament in Bozeman, as it stands now the music won’t follow.

Bozeman is more than 300 miles away, and School District 6 has a long-standing policy that prevents the pep band from traveling to a tourney more than 250 miles away.

The policy was put in place to curb expenses and because the band director at the time had problems keeping track of the pep band’s 20-plus members.

But members of this year’s band are hoping to change things. Led by saxophonist Henry Chisholm, band members implored the school board Feb. 9 to take another look at the policy so they can go to Bozeman. The board agreed and planned to hold a meeting on the subject as the Hungry Horse News went to press.

Chisholm said the band was willing to raise the $6,000 needed to pay for the trip. Band members were already looking at approaching various civic organizations and other fundraisers. It costs about $220 per student to travel to Bozeman, Chisholm said.

At first, the board considered making an exception for this one trip, but then members decided it would be best see if the old policy could be modified.

Band trips are funded by gate receipts from basketball games, school activities director Troy Bowman said, but there wasn’t enough money to completely foot the bill for trips to Bozeman and Hamilton.

Board members suggested amending the policy to allow longer trips if band members were willing to raise the funds, but the final policy details needed to be worked out in committee.

Chisholm thanked the board for considering the change. “It would be a shame if we couldn’t support the best team in the state with the best band in the state,” he said.