Oxford High parents left wondering over band director replacemen

Oxford City School System has a new band director and some parents have questions about what happened to the old one. The band director was replaced after students say a parent was allowed to hit her child with a belt in front of his class.

The director's replacement was introduced Tuesday in the Oxford band room. Oxford High School's principal, Trey Holladay, announced that former assistant band director Brian Bradburry will now be the co-band director with John Underwood.

"I know what I knew when I got here which is absolutely nothing, that the band director that was there is no longer," Contressa Collins said.

What many parents really wanted to know was more information about why the former band director is no longer instructing their kids.

"I would have liked to know a little more about where they placed the teachers," Dena Bishop said.

According to several parents the removal is a result of an incident that took place the Thursday before Labor day and involved another Oxford teacher.

"A parent had an issue with her child she was a teacher at the school as well," Nicole Mead said.

Mead says her daughter told her that the parent came into the band room looking for her child that day.

"Gave her daughter the ultimatum she could do one of two things. She could leave Oxford or get a spanking in front of all of her classmates. I guess she chose to get a spanking in front of the other students and asked the band director for her belt. He proceeded to take his belt off this is what my daughter told me she was there and the mother proceeded to spank her," Mead said.

In the meeting Tuesday, principal Holladay acknowledged there was an issue that's been dealt with, and that counseling was available for band members. The school district representative would only say they do not comment on personnel issues.

What has many parents upset is the way things have been handled since the alleged incident.

"Along with my child having to witness and experience that not to be contacted by anyone from the school I didn't even know that it happened. Until Friday night I noticed the band director wasn't there," Mead said.

No criminal charges have been brought against the teacher or band director in this alleged incident. Some of the parents at the meeting were in support of the former band director and said they would like to see him remain in his position.

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