'Star Spangled Banner' Must Play Before Games At This RivCo School District

TEMECULA, CA — Extending a CIF-Southern Section requirement that the National Anthem must play before playoff or championship games, the Temecula Valley Unified School District board of trustees decided this week that the "Star-Spangled Banner" will precede all athletic competitions.

The ruling, which passed 5-0 at the Aug. 18 School Board Session, adds that the policy must be either performed live or played in a "respectful and appropriate recording" before Junior Varsity and Varsity games.

The motion was presented by trustee Dr. Melissa Anderson, at the request of a community member, to revise the policy on "Ceremonies and Observances."

The new policy would require that the National Anthem be played or performed immediately before each home junior varsity and varsity interscholastic athletic contest hosted by the District.

"The policy specifies that individual participation is voluntary and that no student, employee, spectator, or other individual will be compelled to sing, stand, salute, place a hand over the heart, or otherwise participate," according to the agenda item."The policy also directs the Superintendent or designee to establish any administrative procedures necessary for implementation and provides limited exceptions for emergencies, safety concerns, equipment or power failures, severe weather, governing body event protocols, and other unforeseen circumstances."

Before the vote, a mother within the school district took to the microphone, adding her thoughts on why it is a good idea and what issues might arise if the requirement was adopted.

She said: "I like the fanfare before sporting events. I am an overthinker, and in 2016 we saw a lot of issues with people taking a knee during games. If the band wants to play, let them do it, and if it is a thing before every game, and people take a knee, it could propagate division."

Dr. Melissa Anderson then shared that the anthem is played before most games; sometimes it is missed for one reason or another, but it has been encouraged before all sporting events.

"I was asked to bring this up by a community member, and I told them I support this and I would put the item up on the agenda," said Dr. Melissa Anderson during the meeting.

Trustee Jen Wiersma added her comments: "You always decide to do the right thing, and if there is a resistance from other schools or teams, that's on them. This is the 250th anniversary of the country, and I think it's the right thing to do."

Emil Barham moved to vote, and Weirsma seconded the motion, which passed 5-0 without comment.