[Dhsbb-jazz] FW: DHS Band Trips

[Rob Kerner]

At our last booster meeting we discussed how we should respond to having another trip cancelled.  It was decided that we should inform the Board of Education the difficulties we have been having with trip planning.  To be transparent below is the email I sent to the School Board as well as the Superintendent, assistant Superintendent and Principle of DHS.  I will keep you apprised of any responses.

Rob Kerner
Band Booster President

From: ROB KERNER <rvkerner at ucdavis.edu>
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 6:06 PM
To: "boe at djusd.net" <boe at djusd.net>, John Bowes <jbowes at djusd.net>, Matthew Best <mbest at djusd.net>
Cc: Thomas Slabaugh <tslabaugh at djusd.net>, Tom McHale <tmchale at djusd.net>, Annika and Brian Keeley <abkeeley98 at gmail.com>, Kevin English <english at dcn.org>, Brett Barnes <brett.a.barnes at comcast.net>, Lindsay Terry <blisterry at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: DHS Band Trips

I have met with several of you in the past to discuss problems the DHS band has had with district administrators, and unfortunately, I am writing again with similar problems.  I’m sorry this is going to be a long email, but I believe you need some context.
Last year the band took a trip to New York with the Symphony.  We encountered district administrators that were making decisions on the trip that affected both students and chaperones without consultation with the music directors or chaperones.  When we got back, I met with John Bowes and Tom McHale and thought we had worked out those issues.  This year has proven that we have not.
We started planning for a Jazz band trip to New Orleans and was informed by Tom McHale that he had not found an administrator to go on this trip.  We continued planning the trip but found airfare continued to rise causing the trip to become too expensive to take.  We had to cancel this trip because no administrator was found at the time we needed to book airfare.  The jazz students were extremely disappointed, and the boosters were angry that the trip was cancelled.  Many volunteer hours and fundraising had gone into the trip.   If the district cannot find an administrator to attend a trip then you either need to trust your teacher, or assign someone to go.  The students should not have to suffer because the district can’t find willing participants.
Since the Jazz Band trip to New Orleans was cancelled, we started planning for them to attend the Reno Jazz festival.  The Reno trip had been one the band has taken in the past many times and we didn’t think it would be a problem.  Tom submitted his online application on Feb 24th but was missing details because we were still in the process of arranging them.  The Boosters volunteers were working hard to arrange bus, hotel, and Tom was working to get playing times.  On April 6th Tom Slabaugh was in a motorcycle accident.  From his hospital room he was talking with Matt Best to make sure the music would continue and the Jazz trip could go on.
I emailed Tom McHale with my concerns for both the music classes as well as the Jazz Reno trip on April 7th.  The boosters were prepared to pay for a music sub if the school could not find one.  He did not respond until April 16th.  On April 16th at 12:35 pm he sent me an email asking if the boosters had invested money in the Reno trip.  He did not ask us if we had any of the missing information.   I informed him we had invested money and that I thought some was nonrefundable.  At 1:33 pm he sent me another email informing me the trip had been cancelled, just 10 days before the trip.  This lack of communication between Tom McHale and the boosters, at a time when the band director was injured and therefore when it was needed the most, is not acceptable.  While I understand boosters are not employees of the district, this decision seemed capricious.  The students had been practicing with their music sub, and she told them she was prepared to go on the Reno trip with them. There was no discussion with those of us planning the trip.  We were working hard and making all of the necessary changes to ensure the trip could continue and be successful.  From my perspective the district puts no value on music education and does not value the experience that musicians get from making these trips.
When I followed up with Tom McHale he informed me of the forms that were missing and that the school board did not approve the trip.  Additionally he stated that the band had not been able to rehearse with Tom Slabaugh, and that Tom Slabaugh had not been working with Matt Best.  While I am not a music educator, I know exactly how Jazz band works from 30 years of experience.  These musicians would not have had any difficulties performing in the festival.  Not once did Tom McHale communicate with us to ask us if we had any of the missing details, which we could have easily provided since we did have everything he needed either completed or nearly completed. Given the fact that Mr. Slabaugh was on medical leave and still recovering from serious injuries, I don’t understand why the administration would not then reach out to the boosters.  The only time I heard from Mr. McHale was when he cancelled the trip, then when I prompted him for more information. This opportunity was stolen from these high school young adults for a second time in one year and they will never get that back.  It is shameful when those in charge cause this kind of anguish unnecessarily.

I also sent an email to Matt Best asking him for more details on what happened.  That email went unanswered until I followed up twice two weeks later.  Matt did mention something in his response to me that I never knew:  He said that the district could enter travel contracts on our behalf.  That would be great. Please let me know who I contact so they can start working on our next trip contracts.  I would gladly welcome professional assistance since our volunteers are getting harder to come by when we are treated so poorly by administration.
When I met with John Bowes at the beginning of the school year he made it clear that the principle Tom McHale was our primary contact.  Other than the meeting I requested with Tom McHale, we have very little interaction.  I believe music in general is not well supported by the current administration.  If the district continues to treat the music students in this way the booster support will likely dry up.  I know I have given serious consideration to whether I want the headache of being booster president another year to deal with administrators that take no consideration of the work our organization does.  Without the boosters there is no music in Davis.  I’m hopeful that is not what the School Board wants.
I just met with Tom McHale this afternoon to go over details of our proposed trip for next May 2020 to Victoria, BC.  He was supportive of the trip, but I don’t feel like we are on any firmer ground than before and am worried that we will invest heavily in fundraising and organizing the trip only to have it cancelled.  Tom McHale made it clear in my meeting that he expects to interact with Tom Slabaugh and not the boosters in regards to trips.  While I fully expect him to interact with the music teacher, he should also be willing to interact with those planning the details of the trip.  If it is not him, then someone should be delegated that task.
Please let me know what you plan on doing to assure the DHS Band Boosters that the district actually supports the music program and values our contribution.  Lastly, I would formally request that you provide me with all of the rules and forms governing trips.  Please send paper copies of both relevant policy and forms to our Band Booster address, DHS Band Boosters, P.O. Box 73522, Davis, CA 95617.   Alternatively, you can email them to me at rvkerner at ucdavis.edu<mailto:rvkerner at ucdavis.edu>.  Any training materials you have provided to the teachers in regard to planning trips would also be appreciated.  Additionally, please provide us the expected trip planning workflow and realistic timeframe for trip approvals.  If necessary, we can come present at the May 16th Board meeting.
Sincerely,
Rob Kerner
Band Boosters President



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