With new band director, East readies for season
By Harold Gwin
The new director said he plans to begin practice sessions Monday.
YOUNGSTOWN — The East High School Panthers Marching Band won’t be at Saturday’s football opener against Cleveland South, but it will perform at the game at Austintown Fitch next Friday.
Dan Gall, named band director at East this week, said he plans to begin band practices Monday.
Damon Dohar, the city schools’ assistant superintendent of human resources, said Gall, who had been laid off at the end of the last school year along with 75 other teachers, including the former East band director, was officially recalled Monday.
Gall, a music teacher who was assigned to P. Ross Berry Middle School last year, said he received the recall notice Wednesday. He was in the school’s band room Thursday, calling parents and checking student schedules in an effort to get things moving. He said he didn’t know yet how many band members he would have.
High school bands normally spend time in August practicing and working on half-time routines.
East opens its season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, playing Cleveland South at Canfield.
“We’re going to get something going as quick as we can,” Gall said Thursday, adding that the band will perform at the second game at Austintown next Friday.
Classes don’t begin until Sept. 3.
Although the band hasn’t been practicing, the high school flag line has, working without the band’s backup music.
Band is a supplemental contract, and the band director must also be a teacher, said M. Mike McNair, district spokesman.
“We’re still filling positions on a call-back basis,” he said, adding that there was always a plan to fill the East post.
It would have been nice to get it filled sooner, but the district has to go through a contractual process checking seniority and certifications before bringing back a furloughed teacher, McNair said.
Dohar said a teacher retirement cleared the way for Gall’s recall.
“There will be a band,” he said.
Will Bagnola, president of the Youngstown Education Association, the teachers union, said he believes there was some miscommunication that resulted in delays in getting the position filled.
“I’m sure Mr. Gall will work hard ... and give those kids the opportunity to show what they’ve got,” he said.
gwin@vindy.com