FBI investigation cuts competition season short for a nationally ranked high school band in E.TN

[Jilly_in_VA]

In March, Sequoyah High School's band season was put on hold after a man who volunteer as the band's driver and hauled their equipment was placed under investigation for allegations involving a minor, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

They said Kyle Rowland was a volunteer for the band as a driver, and he hauled their equipment. After he was placed under investigation, the band missed two competitions and will miss a championship over the weekend.

"I have lost sleep. I've not been able to eat lunch because of how nervous I get at school," said Ashyre Sartin, an eighth-grader who plays in the band. "I've always been somewhat of a loner. It's just different not to be able to bring my clarinet to school anymore."

She said playing in the band allowed her to hang out with friends, and without the band program she does not talk to as many people. The band was ranked nationally before its season came to a halt.

"Also, practices have ceased, so there's a lot of missed work, so even if we did get to go to WGI, there's a lot of gray areas and our show wouldn't be as great as it could've been," said Addison Willson, the band's color guard.

Both of the school's band directors have been placed on administrative leave pending the ongoing investigation parents said. The students now attend classes with a substitute teacher in a classroom when they would normally be practicing.

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/crime/sequoyah-high-school-band-season-cut-short/51-672c9d9b-b64c-4751-88d0-e0692720bc4a

There is too much bafflegab and too many confusing statements by authorities for this to make any sense. Why would the loss of a volunteer driver affect the rest of the season? Too many loose ends, and the kids aren't being told anything either.

[Srkdqltr]

1. The article doesn't say much. There is something else going on.

If they don't say everyone will make up their own stories.

[JMCKUSICK]

2. Most likely response is that

They don't have a licensed driver available to haul the kids. You need a CDL to transport school kids I believe.

[Tanuki]

4. More likely because "both of the school's band directors

have been placed on administrative leave," per the article.

[Jilly_in_VA]

8. If you read the article

I believe it's an "equipment driver", not one hauling kids. He hauled their STUFF.

[brewens]

3. That never happens unless there is a lot more going on. We had a regular driver for sports

trips in junior high. If he had been in trouble for something like that, we would have never missed a game. It would have had to have been a crime against one of us kids at least to have even missed anything.

[Jilly_in_VA]

5. I have some questions

and no doubt the parents do too, never mind what the kids are thinking.

1. What is the FBI doing there?
2. What does a volunteer driver have to do with both band directors being on leave?
3. What does both band directors being on leave have to do, ultimately, with "kids' safety"?

Riddle me all that, and maybe you'll have a story Until then, it's all bafflegab, and what's going on is ultimately confusing everyone and hurting the kids.

[Historic NY]

6. Doesn't the school district have bus's

Interesting enough, who pays the insurance for a volunteer to haul kinds and equipment in a private vehicles.

[Tetrachloride]

7. Drivers are in short supply. Moreover, drivers don't want to be school bus drivers

unless there is a chaperone. Especially, for high school students. Especially at night. Especially for out of town. Especially in Tennessee.

As for myself: On 3 occasions, i was asked to be a bus driver without a chaperone. On 2-3 other occasions, there was a chaperone. The dispatchers helped make sure that i knew procedures as all of the passengers were special needs.

there’s a wide range of possible troubles.

[Grins]

9. Key words: "FBI investigation..."

Implies inter-state crime.

Story only mentions the Sheriff's office, leaving me wondering why not also the State Police?

[Wonder Why]

10. What could be more important than a high school sports team? Especially, one

missing the opportunity to rack up a championship! It's not like the school library was closed, 50% of the kids are failing, or sex education or book burning was going on! This is IMPORTANT!

Must be something "woke" in the sport.

[Jilly_in_VA]

11. SPORTS team?

WTF are you smoking, son? Do you have a clue what a band is? It's a musical enterprise, composed of nerds who play instruments, kids who play MUSIC while also moving around on their feet, sometimes in very complex patterns, plus a bunch of other kids who do complex things with flags, batons, etc. Now you can consider that a sport if you like. Most people consider music a "frill" to be eliminated from the schools. I am here to tell you that symphonic band is difficult and marching band is ten times harder. Perhaps it is you who needs to go back to school. Music helps kids learn other subjects.

[Duppers]

12. Me thinks this joker...

Is a disruptor.

[Jilly_in_VA]

13. Agreed

I thought about reporting him, but wasn't sure what to report him under, so I didn't. The post pissed me off, though. I was in band at one time but I quit because of marching band--I am not coordinated enough to play music while marching in fancy patterns.