Why band didn’t play

In her letter of Dec. 3, [Jessica] Shumaker laments the missed opportunity for the Bangor High School band to have played at a midnight rally for Democratic candidates which featured President Clinton. The Bangor School Committee wishes to clarify several of Miss Shumaker’s comments.

As a resident of Bangor and a graduate of Bangor High School, Congressman [John] Baldacci did call Superintendent [James] Doughty to invite the Bangor High band to play at the rally. When asked by the superintendent whether it was a presidential appearance or a political rally, Baldacci replied that it was a political rally. As an agent of the School Committee, Doughty thanked Baldacci for the honor, but declined the invitation, explaining that as a public school, Bangor would not direct its students to participate in any politically partisan activity. Congressman Baldacci responded that he fully understood and appreciated the Bangor School Committee position.

The School Committee would like to assure the community that Bangor High School, a public institution, belongs to all of the citizens of Bangor and will not be used for partisan political purposes. Bangor School Committee: Martha Newman, chairman; Phyllis Shubert, vice-chairman; Susan Carlisle; Scott Lary; Rachel Leen; Suzanne Cox; and Arthur Eaton