EAST NEW YORK — A Brooklyn youth marching band has been granted a reprieve from program cuts after it was locked out of its base in an East New York school.
The well-known Soul Tigers Marching Band worked out a deal in late January with the Department of Education and J.H.S. 292’s interim acting principal after the group's director claimed school officials changed the locks on the group's classroom doors and restricted practice time to four days a week.
Following protests from students and parents, administrators allowed a six-day practice schedule in the school's space to resume.
The changes will let Soul Tigers use a classroom at J.H.S. 292 from Monday through Saturday, though they will have to pay a new permit fee for the weekend, according to Hughes.
The school also provided additional chairs for the 60 students that attend practice after repeated requests from band staff. Fewer than 20 seats were previously available and kids had to do homework on the floor, according to members.
Still, the developments are not enough for Hughes, he told DNAinfo.
“It’s progress as far as the space is concerned, but if you were here in the beginning, in the history of us being in the school, the environment is not a welcoming environment anymore,” he said.
“That’s the bigger issue. We service many more kids now, but it’s like the school is not in support of the program and a lot of the kids miss out.”
The independent band, which has appeared in an ad for Tommy Hilfiger and performed at several citywide events, has operated out of J.H.S. 292 without funding from the school. Instead, the group receives assistance from performance payments and elected officials such as Councilwoman Inez Barron.
Principal Evelyn Maxfield’s decision marks the first time in the band’s 13-year tenure that they’ll have to pay for school space, Hughes said.
Outside organizations looking to use city schools after hours need extended-use permits but decisions are ultimately made by the site's administrators, according to a Department of Education representative.
Maxfield could not be immediately reached for comment.
Hughes cited bad blood between himself and Maxfield as the reason why certain issues remain unsolved.
Band members still sit outside their classroom for long periods of time while waiting for someone to unlock the door, Hughes said, and he is still unsure as to how students will retrieve their gear for outside performances.
Future meetings are planned with the Department of Education to “come to a conclusion on how things will work,” he added.
In the meantime, Soul Tigers is looking to fundraise to pay for their $12-an-hour permit fee.
