The Lawrence school board eliminated pep band at both the city’s high schools nearly two years ago in a cost-cutting move.

Or so board members thought.

But while Free State High School games were less musical, the band played on at Lawrence High School. The reason: Then-Principal Dick Patterson blurred lines in Lawrence High School’s financial ledger to come up with money to keep his pep band in action at Lion basketball games.

That changed in December, after new LHS Principal Steve Nilhas reversed Patterson’s decision and the stands fell silent.

And the band’s absence didn’t go unnoticed by students, players, coaches and fans.

“You could hear a pin drop at half time,” said LHS student Amanda Faletra. “We need it back. It’s a big part of the school.”

While a seemingly minor issue, the situation highlights the sorts of issues schools and districts face in translating budget cuts to reality.

In an interview Monday, Nilhas said he was uncomfortable maintaining a major student program at LHS that wasn’t offered at Free State. Especially, he said, without school board consent.

But Faletra and a dozen other students are urging the board to reconsider the cut that eliminated $1,100 a year to hire directors for the pep bands.

Lawrence High School seniors, from left, Grant Willie, Whitney McKedy and Kasabi Chinonge, watch the Lawrence High School girl's basketball team at a recent home game. Budget cuts have led to the elimination of pep bands at LHS and Free State High School, but the Lions band may soon return to the bleachers.

“Our band is like a team,” Faletra said. “Our directors are like our coaches. We need funding for this pep band to keep tradition alive.”

While the board has yet to consider that request, Nilhas said the district had agreed to allow LHS to restart its pep band. He has approval to find alternative funding to make sure the band returns to the bleachers in a couple of weeks.

At Free State, Principal Joe Snyder said he wouldn’t follow the lead of LHS. While Free State misses the school’s pep band, Snyder will stick with a student combo that has voluntarily provided music at Firebird basketball games the past two seasons.

“I think pep bands are always good atmosphere builders,” Snyder said.

Nilhas said the situation at LHS would be resolved, at least temporarily. But, he added, the board should have a policy discussion about handling such budget conflict.

“The dilemma the board faces is: When you cut something what does that mean?” he said.

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His question struck a chord with board member Linda Robinson. She was upset to learn Patterson had circumvented the board’s budget cuts.

“I was shocked,” she said. “I don’t think that was the intent.”

Leni Salkind, the board’s vice president, said she disliked allowing pep band or a similar program to exist at LHS but not at Free State. She wasn’t enthusiastic about the high school conducting a private fund-drive to keep a band in the stands.

“It’s an equity issue,” Salkind said. “If we do that it’s going to throw everything out of kilter.”

Supt. Randy Weseman said a request from the principals for pep band funding would be considered by the district’s budget committee this spring. That panel convenes for the first time today to begin planning the 2004-2005 budget.

And while he was supportive of the contribution made by students in pep band, Weseman said he wasn’t optimistic the district would have enough money in the budget.

“At this point, we’re looking at cutting another $1.5 million,” he said.

Weseman said he assumed the 2004 Legislature wouldn’t increase spending on public education in the state. That assumption reflects his belief lawmakers don’t understand how districts have become cash-strapped in recent years.

“There are some people out there who think we have enough money or too much money,” he said. “This (pep band) is an indication of the situation we’re in.”