A $3.5 million shortfall has not put a damper on the Oak Harbor All District Band Festival. After hearing via the grapevine that the district was canceling the festival and talking to some concerned parents, Loretta Bezold and I decided to not let the axe fall on this event.

After contacting the school district to find out the cost of the event we decided to ask for donations to cover these costs. Thanks go to Dr. and Mrs. Ben Hu, Dr. and Mrs. Bradley Olsen, Anthony and Dawn Glavick, Lawrence and Margaret Ryan, Mark and Suzanne Kincy, Larry and Loretta Bezold, Dr. and Mrs. Jim Livermore, and OHMS PTA, for their donations.

This festival is important to all those involved. The band students and directors work all year and this culminating festival allows parents, community members and participants to see the results. Each band from beginning sixth- grade bands to advanced wind ensemble and jazz bands have a chance to perform. Young students have a chance to see what they can become if they work hard and stay with the program.

Do not let our kids’ programs be cut. We, as parents and community members, need to show the school district that we can think out of the box and find funding for events and programs that are on the chopping block.

Building a stadium and remodeling schools is only superficial. What goes on under the roofs of these schools is what is important. A sound, nationally acceptable curriculum supported by staff, administration, parents, community members and funded by whatever means necessary is what our students need. We need to ask what we can do and become involved as parents, students, teachers and community members.

Margaret Livermore

Oak Harbor