It was a different band, but the same song.

Highline High School band members and parents expressed concern to district board members on Oct. 11 about the scheduling of band as part of the school's new small learning communities.

Band students and parents from SeaTac's Tyee campus aired identical complaints to the board last year when that school was divided into three small schools.

The principals of those schools had suggested band be scheduled after school. The controversy was resolved by placing band within the Global Connections small school.

Band parent Wendy Frandle of Burien said Highline High's new four-period schedule makes it difficult for students to schedule band and still take other classes they need.

Highline's school day is divided into four 80-minute blocks plus an advisory period.

Some classes are taken on alternating days. However, band is offered every day.

Normandy Park parent Carolyn Winiecki complained that band might be scheduled next year at the same time as chemistry.

"We should recognize the value of band," Winiecki declared. "For some students, it is the only reason to come to school."

Senior band member Nicole Vukonich said she could not imagine sports events and pep assemblies without the band.

"At a time when we are separated into small schools, we should have something that brings us together," she said.

"We are loyal to Highline High and Highline should be loyal to us."

Heidi Kludt, a band parent from Normandy Park, told board members that band had been a small learning community long before the district's switch to small schools.

The band unifies students and creates a bond between students and the teacher, she added.

Later, Highline High principal Pat Dunn expressed surprise at the students' and parents' unease.

"There has never been a discussion in the building of eliminating band," Dunn noted.

Dunn said it is sometimes difficult for students to schedule every required class and elective they want, especially if they participate in band each year.

If board members vote to add another year of math as a graduation requirement, it could become even more difficult, according to Dunn.

At the board meeting, students reported they had been pressured by counselors to drop band.

Superintendent John Welch said there is no easy answer to band scheduling problems but pledged administrators would work to find a solution.

"In the whole vision behind high school reform, it was never our intent to do away with band or art," Welch noted.

Board president Phyllis Byers and board member Julie Burr Spani also expressed support for band instruction.