Students, parents and teachers urge David Douglas board to restore assistant band director amid proposed cuts

Dozens of students, alumni and parents packed the David Douglas School District boardroom on May 8 to urge school leaders to preserve the assistant band director position at David Douglas High School after district staffing changes put the role at risk.

In nearly two hours of public comment, current and former students described the assistant director as essential to the band program’s competitive success and to students’ social and emotional development. "Something truly special is at risk of being dismantled, not because it failed, but because it succeeded too quietly," said Nelson Santos, a senior and member of the David Douglas music program.

The comment period included multiple speakers who said the assistant director, identified in testimony as Danny Fineman, leads or co‑teaches key classes such as Jazz 1 and percussion methods and provides private lessons and competition support. "Cutting the band program even partially is a serious mistake and one that would be deeply harmful to students," said EJ Hutchinson, a senior and band member. Students described the assistant director’s role as the middle tier in a multi‑year pipeline from middle‑school programs into high‑school ensembles.

Speakers also presented petitions and written testimony. William Mora Nunez, representing Jazz 1, said the petition gathered "745 signatures" and 16 pages of support in 24 hours; several speakers described out‑of‑state signatories. Parents and community members asked the board to consider retaining at least 0.6 FTE of the high‑school position to preserve Jazz 1, percussion methods and continuity between middle and high school programs.

Teachers and band directors emphasized the program’s track record and the staffing model’s role in sustaining it. "This is one of the most public‑facing programs our school has, and it deserves the kind of backing that allows it to grow, not shrink," said a student speaker who cited decades of state competition results and local awards. Several middle‑school band teachers urged the board to preserve the scaffolding that helps incoming freshmen advance into upper‑level ensembles.

The board did not take formal action on the music staffing item during the meeting. In board members’ reflections after public comment, several directors acknowledged the urgency and asked staff and each other to explore options. One director said the board lacks sole control over staffing totals because revenue constraints and state funding determine how many positions are available, but added that the board would look for creative solutions to protect high‑impact programs.

Speakers repeatedly asked for clearer communication and more time for community input before personnel decisions are finalized. Several witnesses warned that losing the assistant director could lead to fewer performance classes, higher workloads for remaining staff, and a break in a mentoring pipeline with Head Director Jennifer Brooks—whom some speakers described as a long‑tenured teacher whose mentorship helps train future directors.

The board accepted the public comments and moved on to the rest of the agenda; no motion to restore the position or reallocate FTE was recorded in the meeting minutes. Directors said they would consider the testimony and follow up in subsequent budget and staffing discussions.

The public outcry highlighted both the program’s prominence in district life and the tradeoffs the board faces as it balances personnel and budget constraints.