First of all, in order to compete at a National level, you must first be invited. The Wagner Band has won 3 State titles in a row. They were invited to compete at Naionals for the third year in a row and was finally able to make the trip. Where the competition is held is NOT up to any Director. The district could have simply say NO. Regardless, the trip would have happened anyway. Another thing, don't take away for the huge accomplishment these kids have earned. They work extremely hard year round to be successful. Let's just be proud of them and all the surrounding bands and other school organizations. I would rather see MY tax money at work supporting OUR schools than to have a good for nothing staff/ board official stealing it!!! And yes, I live in the JISD school district and pay my taxes!!!!

Don’t hate Tom, quit stealing money from your school and use it for more important use. Like travel expenses for students… just saying. GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!

Never heard of Wagner. Oh well, moving on.

Reneerdz, first and foremost is a Huge Congratulations to your child and the whole Wagner Band. My question is, Why didn't the Wagner Band Instructor go to a competition that was closer and less expensive to travel to? I know what I am talking about because I too had children in marching band.It does get quite expensive. As a matter of fact, my daughter's colorguard team won the state indoor competition but could not go to the indoor nationals because the team could not raise the funds. Where did Churchill, Reagan, Madison, and all the other San Antonio bands go? Did they not compete in a "National Competition"?

Being one of the parents of a Wagner HS Band member, I would like to note that although the school district did contribute to the trip (with my taxes as well), the out of pocket expense for the parents was over $1,000. Being a single mom, I don't think it would have been possible witout the help from the district. True, their division was only 5 bands, but they received the highest scores of ALL 152 bands that competed. A tremendous accomplishment. CONGRATULATIONS T-BIRDS!!!

First let me congratulate the Wagner Band on an outstanding competition. Way to go T-Birds. Now let me set the record straight. The competition was an "Open Competition" that only had 1 school that was not from the New Jersey / Connecticut / Maryland or upper EastCoast area. Where were the schools from Texas, Florida, Virginia, California, ect.... ? This article and the rest of the Judson ISD "Good News People" try to make it sound like Wagner Band is the National Champions of ALL bands. That is not the case. They competed against 4 (That is correct, 4)other schools, in an "Open Competton", in a location that required the Judson ISD to use "Taxpayer Funds" to get them there. When other organizations such as the Judson Band, the cheerleader squads from both schools, FFA, and many more organzations go to "Natinals", the parents pay for the trip, not the district. I guess $65,000 is a small price to pay to get the Wagner area to support the upcoming bond issue in May.

Congratulations to my niece Dominique and all her Wagner bandmates!!