Preston High dance team and varsity cheerleaders spar over halftime time, music and safety at board meeting

Members of the public, coaches and board members discussed competing claims about halftime performances, music control and safety at Preston High School during the Dec. 17 board meeting.

Jeff Zigray, a community member who asked to speak about the dance team, raised concerns about short timeouts and music play during timeouts that interfered with cheerleader routines. "Some of the music I felt was a little concerning," he said, describing a music selection with a violent-movie reference that parents found inappropriate for young spectators.

Britney Carpenter, who identified herself as co-sponsor of the Preston High dance team, said the club seeks only modest performance time and uses no district funds: "We're not taking any funding... the girls provide all of their own stuff," she told the board. Carpenter asked for regular three-minute halftime opportunities and said the dance team was not organized to compete with cheerleaders.

Tina Silkot/Silcott, identified in the transcript as the head coach of the varsity cheer squad, said the concern is timing and safety. She told the board that cheerleaders historically have two specific venues — football and varsity boys basketball — and that the dance club's performances on sidelines and during short timeout windows sometimes drown out cheer counts. "When my girls were attempting to do that at the basketball game the other night, the music would come on and it would drown out what my cheerleaders were doing," she said, describing a specific stunt where music began and could have led to an injury.

Why it matters: The dispute touches on student-safety procedures at athletic events, equitable access to student activities and how the school should manage competing extracurricular priorities. The board and administration said they want a policy-based approach to avoid ad-hoc disputes.

Board responses and proposed next steps

District administrators said a meeting the day before (between sponsors, coaches, the principal and the athletic director) addressed music control and sequencing; Mr. Seymour (the building principal/athletic director in the discussion) said there was not a clear single person controlling music at some events and that the district would identify a consistent point of contact. The options discussed included:

- Prioritizing timeouts for varsity cheerleaders for certain timeout windows and establishing a rotation for 30-second timeouts so both squads have opportunities to perform; and
- Using halftime or JV/varsity scheduling to stage non-conflicting joint or separate performances, and requiring music to be reviewed or controlled at the scorer's table.

Carpenter said she had edited objectionable music after concerns were raised and that the dance team would not use that music again; she also said the dance sponsors requested the board's guidance and an equitable performance slot. The varsity coach said she has no objection to a dance club in general but that the club should not infringe on the cheerleaders' traditional venues and time to perform.

Safety issues and personnel concerns

Carpenter said a second reason for the meeting she convened was complaints that a coach had acted inappropriately toward her athletes; she asked for an apology for perceived mocking of her dancers. District representatives confirmed the complaint was reported and said the personnel matter was being handled administratively. The board declined to intervene on personnel details at the public meeting and suggested resolving personnel issues through appropriate administrative channels.

What the transcript shows and next steps

The transcript records testimony for both sides: dancers' sponsors seeking performance opportunities and cheer coaches emphasizing safety and tradition. The administration offered to identify a consistent music controller, coordinate possible joint performances, and explore JV/varsity scheduling options. The board asked the superintendent to follow up and said a more detailed agenda item or administrative resolution could be presented at a subsequent meeting.

No formal board vote or immediate policy change was recorded in the meeting; the administration will return with clarifications and recommended operational guidelines for halftime performances and music control.