As everyone knows, Mr. Carroll has been the band director here at West for over 20 years. Within the past few years the program has grown, with an even larger incoming Freshman class expected next year managing the band with only one designated band director will make an already difficult situation even more complex.

With nearly 200 students in band, an additional band director has been asked to join the program to assist. Similar programs in the surrounding school districts have two designated directors with even less band members.

The first step in the fight for an additional band director was to ask administration their thoughts on the issue. When Mr. Carroll, the current band director, asked for help, the response was simply “No”. Youjia Wang, junior, took it upon himself to make a petition. The petition explained what Mr. Carroll has done for the program for over 20 years and why it would be beneficial for the students to have another band director.

An in-depth explanation of Mr. Carroll’s impact was the featured topic of discussion in the petition forum. Youjia Wang contributed, “When Mr. Carroll took over the Joliet West Band program in 1993, he led a band of approximately 70 student’s total. Over the past 21 years, the program has experienced a tremendous amount of success and growth. The symphonic band has been chosen to participate at the University of Illinois Superstate Band Festival on numerous occasions. And, the marching band continues to place high at competitions around the state. Currently the band program boasts approximately 200 members, three concert ensembles, two jazz ensembles, a marching band, and a pep band. This places a great deal of stress and responsibility upon Mr. Carroll. As the sole director, his responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the direction, management, and education of all seven ensembles, the management of all school instruments, the programing and planning of 25-30 in school and off campus performances, organizing the program’s involvement in various competitions around the state, and maintaining close relations with the Band Booster Organization to ensure that the band program has the necessary financial means to continue functioning at the high level it does today. As you can see, Mr. Carroll has taken on a workload that should be properly handled by at least two people”.

The strong views of Youjia and his fellow band members could push the petition to the top of the administrative to-do list. However, plans have already been finalized for the 2014-2015 school year, meaning the earliest a new band director would come to fruition would be 2015-2016.
If there is anyone that would like to sign the petition it’s located on Facebook and on http://www.change.org