What is the rationale behind the five-days-per-week band instruction next year?
The District is addressing this issue in accordance with Freshman Programming to be implemented in 2005-06, in the same way it was addressed by the District with the opening of the Lake Highlands Freshman Center in 1998-99. Sixth grade Band and Orchestra is currently taught five days a week in each elementary school in the Lake Highlands Area as has been done for the past five years. Lake Highlands Junior High and Forest Meadow Junior High compete in the University Interscholastic League (U.I.L.) Middle-School Classifications. In 2005-06, the Berkner, Pearce and Richardson Attendance Areas will be moving to Freshman Programming. At that time, seventh and eighth graders will comprise the junior high whose performing ensembles must now participate in a U.I.L. Middle School Competitive Classification. The crucial difference between Richardson and other Metroplex area “middle schools” (6th, 7th, and 8th grade campuses) in Plano, Garland, Carrollton, Lewisville, etc. is that they meet their
