Monessen hoping for return of band program
Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte wants to use student interest in a drumline as a starting point.
The Monessen Middle/High School has been without a band program for a couple of years, but there’s hope it will be resurrected.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Motte announced at Tuesday’s school board meeting that 22 students are interested in the drumline program.
“But the drumline is a good starting point to rebuild a band, and that’s our hopes,” Motte said.
Drumline has been practicing once a week, according to Motte, who added, “but I think it should be more.”
The superintendent also said the drumline program doesn’t require 22 students, so once the school runs out of drums, he believes other instruments should be assigned to the remaining interested participants.
The drumline’s goal is to start performing at basketball games in January.
“Basketball games usually have pep bands. So we’ll put (them) in a corner, and they can play during timeouts, during halftime,” Motte said.
At next week’s meeting, the board will vote whether to:
• Accept varsity baseball coach Kalen Spencer’s resignation.
• Authorize the opening of a student activity account for the athletic department.
• Approve the 2024-2025 handbooks for middle/high school students and staff.
• Authorize Motte and Business Manager Jeff Festor to attend Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials annual conference in March for an estimated amount of $2,400.
