Eagle Pass High School and Junior High Band Booster Members request new uniforms and band hall

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

During the Citizens Communication agenda of the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees meeting held on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, Eagle Pass High School and Junior High Band Booster Club President, Lourdes M. Perez, and concerned parent and local attorney, Edgar Juarez, addressed the EPISD School Board requesting new band uniforms because the current ones are over nine years old and in poor conditions, that the existing EPHS Band Hall is inadequate to meet the high number of band students and is in poor conditions due to being over 47 years old, and expressed band parents disappointment with the School District denying the Eagle Pass Junior High Band the use of the Fine Arts and Theater Center at the Student Activity Center for their 2014 Christmas Concert.

Band Booster Club President, Lourdes M. Perez, demonstrated a current Eagle Pass High School Mighty Eagle Band uniform in deteriorating condition to the EPISD School Board to visibly show them the poor conditions of these band uniforms which are over nine years old.

Local attorney and concerned parent, Edgar Juarez, reported educational studies finding that band students perform better academically than non-band students. Juarez noted that the denial to the Eagle Pass Junior High Band the use of the Fine Arts and Theater Center for their 2014 Christmas Concert is a violation of School District policy and disappointing to the students and parents.

Perez and Juarez also pointed out the inadequacy of the Eagle Pass High School band hall to handle the hundreds of students participating in band classes and practices. They noted that the EPHS Band Hall is over 47 years old and in poor conditions, requiring repairs. However, Perez and Juarez requested that a new Band Hall be constructed to meet the current and future needs of EPHS Band students.

There are over 1,000 parents who are members of the Eagle Pass High School and Junior High Band Booster Clubs.

One concerned band booster parent told the Eagle Pass Business Journal that it is unfair and inconsiderate of the Eagle Pass Independent School District School Board and Administration to approve increased salaries for Administrators and employees without satisfying the educational needs of band students first and foremost.

There are many band booster parents who are disappointed with the lack of educational resources and facilities for local band students within the Eagle Pass Independent School District.