At Unit 4 high schools, the 'C' stands for 'crowded'

Photo by: Heather Coit/The News-Gazette

Marching band uniforms are seen in basement storage as band Director Jennifer Currey exits the crowded area Aug. 19 at Champaign Central High School.

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The overcrowding problems at Champaign Central and Centennial high schools have piled up over the years. Here's a small sample:

Central's band room: Room for 45. But 192? 'It's crazy.'

Built in 1956 as an addition to the school, Central's band room comfortably holds about 45 students. And that's without instruments, bands Director John Currey notes.

When it's just the choral students, he says, it's not bad. But bring in the whole orchestra, whose members require more space to move their upper torsos when they play their instruments, and things start to get tight. Add the wind students, and it's even snugger, he says.

And when you try to cram in the entire marching band 192 kids, plus instruments?

"It's maddening," Currey says.

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At Unit 4 high schools, the 'C' stands for 'crowded'