“LISD bands will produce a field show that, while displaying the level of musical and visual excellence for which they are noted, may be greatly reduced in length, demand, and other areas,” the July 21 statement said. “LISD bands will not take part in any competitive events, including UIL events.”
On July 19, LISD suspended indefinitely all in-person extracurricular activities.
The LISD band directors’ statement came hours after UIL, the governing body for academic, athletic and music competitions in Texas schools, said 5A-6A football teams and bands could start practices Sept. 7 if local health officials said it was safe enough to do so.
According to the band directors' statement, LISD’s six high school band programs will follow local and state health guidelines, and their presence at high school football games will be evaluated on a game-by-game basis.
“The attendance and participation of bands at football games will be evaluated on a weekly basis,” the statement said. “Decisions made regarding game participation will apply to all high school band programs, in consideration of the most current state guidelines on social distancing at the time, and in the interest of the health and safety of the students.”
LISD’s 2020-21 school year starts Aug. 13 and will be 100% remote learning until Sept. 8, when students and staff return to campus after the Labor Day weekend. Parents and guardians will get to choose between 100% in-person or 100% remote learning. No hybrid learning program is planned.
LISD originally planned to offer in-person learning on Aug. 13 and set a July 31 deadline for families to decide. Since deciding to offer remote instruction only until Sept. 8, a new deadline for LISD families to decide between in-person and remote learning has not been set.
