BVA will pay for band’s bus trip to state championship

By JOHN RECTENWALD
jrectenwald@yourmvi.com
The Belle Vernon Area marching band will ride first-class to Mechanicsburg on the school district’s dime after all.
BVA’s board of directors met virtually Wednesday to overturn their Tuesday vote, a 5-3 decision that would have left the band’s booster organization to pick up the tab for transporting the band to the PIAA championship football game.
School board members were presented with new information Wednesday, and after getting a sense of the community reaction, decided to fully support the band and not direct attention away from Saturday’s historic event, according to BVA superintendent Dr. Ken Williams.
A Facebook post from Heidi Hurst, of West Newton, quickly gained traction on community forums, and may have played at least some part in pushing the board to reconsider.
“This band deserves to be treated equally and to be a part of BVA history,” wrote Hurst. “They give their all week after week, win or lose, rain or shine.”
Photos Hurst included in her post depicted the band toughing it out through torrential downpour Nov. 11, when the Leopards were dominant in their WPIAL semifinal win over East Allegheny.

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