Some Portland Pep Bands Won’t Perform at High School Games This Season – KXL

The majority of the Portland Interscholastic League’s schools’ band teachers say they won’t direct their marching bands due to lack of pay. This applies for football games in the fall and basketball games in the winter.

KXL received a statement from Jefferson High School Instrumental Music Teacher Dave Hester, whose institution is part of the PIL:

“Jefferson just restarted their music program after several years of being cut due to low enrollment, but we are building up to be able to play at sporting events in the coming years. Jefferson is rebuilding all of its academic and co-curricular programs in anticipation of our rebuild and increased enrollment.

I would like to express my support for this initiative with my PPS band colleagues.  The expectation of a band program is to participate in fall and winter sporting events, perform at before/during/after school events, weekend events, district and state festivals, parades, travel, create and manage fundraisers, facilitate parent groups, host summer camps, etc.  I left my last high school band job because I was working 70+ hours a week with no additional compensation or personnel and I will not put myself in that position again.”

The Portland Public Schools’ union is bargaining with the Portland Association of Teachers after they agreed to a three-year contract in November of 2023. A spokesperson with PAT told OregonLive that this action from band directors is a violation of the current collective bargaining agreement.