Helix Outlines Steps to Deal with Marching Band Noise Complaints

Updated at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6

Helix Charter High School has bought a decibel meter and changed practice times and locales on campus in response to a series of recent noise complaints, school officials said.

“Helix administration and music instructors are actively working to resolve the noise complaints we have received over the last month,” said school spokeswoman Jennifer Osborn.

“While we believe our marching band is not in violation of any noise ordinance, we are willing to be good neighbors and do what we can to minimize the impact on the surrounding community.”

As part of these efforts, she said, the school has changed Wednesday night practices so they end earlier and the amplification volume for the metronome has been reduced.

“Groups of musicians are also being asked to practice in different locations on campus where the sound of the music may not carry as far,” she said.

“We have purchased a decibel meter to track sound levels to ensure we remain within reasonable and legal limits. City and police representatives have been helpful and supportive by providing their knowledge regarding resolution of these types of issues.”

Osborn noted that while the school will accommodate neighbors when possible, “we must ensure that these accommodations do not impact our instructional program.”

Still, the community’s outspoken support of the Highlander Marching Band is appreciated, she said.

“We would like to assure our community that the band is a vital part of our outstanding educational program at Helix,” she said via email last week. “

As a token of appreciation , she said, the community is invited to attend a free concert by the Helix Instrumental Music Department at 7 p.m. Nov.  10 in the gym.

Last week, La Mesa police said at least one person on a street south of Helix Charter High School’s football field accounted for the noise complaints against the marching band in the past year.

“The complaints are from the 7400 block of Orien Avenue,” police Lt. Dan Willis said Tuesday afternoon.  “There are records of eight noise complaints in our CAD system dating back from one year ago.”

Willis said the Police Department has discussed the issues with the executive staff at Helix Charter High School, “as well as the reporting person(s) in an effort to resolve the situation.  The noise complaints are still under investigation as far as determining what noise would be considered reasonable under the law.”

Police Chief Al Lanning on Wednesday said City Attorney Glenn Sabine would be consulted on how to interpret the city’s noise ordinance, adopted in December 1978.

According to the La Mesa Municipal Code:

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city to prohibit unnecessary, excessive, and annoying noises from all sources subject to its police power. At certain levels noises are detrimental to the health and welfare of the citizenry and in the public interests shall be systematically prescribed.

The ordinance further states:

It shall be unlawful for any person to wilfully make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise which disturbs the peace or quiet of any neighborhood or which causes discomfort or annoyance to any reasonable person of normal sensitiveness residing in the area.

While grown-ups hash out disputes over Helix band noise, musician students are focused on preparing for Friday night’s debut performance—and the unveiling of new uniforms.

The Helix Highlander Marching Band—including its trademark bagpipe unit—had a fresher look when it performed at the Scotties’ football opener against Eastlake High School.

Some 121 band members were outfitted in new uniforms designed by Stanbury Uniforms, says Mitchell Way, the band director and director of instrumental music at Helix. Stanbury is based in the north-central Missouri town of Milan.

“The band’s previous uniforms were in dire need of being replaced, at 16 years old, and [began] to show significant signs of wear and tear.  As many observers had begun to report, the band still looked great from afar, but a closer look showed the labors of many amateur band parent tailors working hard to keep the old uniforms stitched together and functional.”

Way says a great deal of research went into preserving the historical appearance of Helix, “even down to the number of silver buttons on the front stitching.”

The uniforms will retain the traditional Scotch Guard appearance that has been Helix’s hallmark while incorporating several design aspects that “keep Helix visually on par in the modern marching band world as well,” Way said.

This year’s band totals 30 more than last year’s, said Way, a former band director at Grossmont High School who previously worked in Nashville. 

The Helix Charter High School board authorized the purchase of 200 uniforms—175 for the band and 25 kilted versions for the bagpipers, Way said.

“The band directors, Helix Instrumental Music Association and alumni are very grateful to the Helix administration for giving them the green light on the purchase from money that had been held onto in a line item specifically for band uniforms for several years,” Way said.

Band uniforms can cost anywhere from $100 to $500 each, but minutes of the Helix Charter board don’t give the total amount spent from the school’s Cloth Fund.

According to board minutes from Feb. 28, 2011:

[Executive Director] Rani [Goyal] presented the board with documentation from the band regarding the new uniforms’ costs, stating they were very conscious of the price and the new uniforms should last for many years. With their allocated cloth budget, they realize a surplus and will ask the board permission to purchase new instruments with the surplus. Additionally, they are working on grants to go above the cloth budget and writing to “donors choose” to fund additional instruments. This will come before the board for approval at the March meeting.”

At the March 7 board meeting, a motion to approve the reallocation of cloth funds to purchase  instruments was passed by a vote of 9 in favor, “with the stipulation that the locks be changed in the existing band room.”