On Tuesday, Aug. 8, Director of Bands Barbara Baker communicated to the Spirit of McIntosh Marching Band that the group’s typical practice field was set to become the new baseball field later this year, with construction expected to begin in Oct. – a month that happens to coincide with the start of the marching band’s competition season. Not only does the move affect practice, but last year’s addition of the tower has left the band potentially without a critical resource.

Senior Marching Band Drum Major Christian Clark is aware that the adjustment will affect the band at such a crucial time in their season.

“It will definitely be a challenge but by having more intense and focused practices we can overcome the reduced field time,” Clark said.

Others are not so optimistic.

“I don’t like that they have now decided to take the practice field away in the middle of the season. If they have to move it then it could cause a lot of conflict,” Chelby Gambrel, sophomore and Spirit of McIntosh veteran, said.

Landlocked

What makes McIntosh different from any of the other four high schools in the district is its location. Tucked between Peachtree Parkway, Walt Banks Road and Stevens Entry, McIntosh has nowhere to grow, despite the upcoming capital improvements planned for campus.

“I’m waiting to see what happens. Our situation is more unique and different than any other school because we’re landlocked. We have golf cart paths and houses on the other side of the practice field. We have businesses behind the current softball and baseball fields. We have a church here to the left of the school, and then up front, there’s a road so we don’t really have the land space that other schools have to expand out. Ultimately [we] will have to go up because you can’t really continue to expand,” Athletic Director Leon Hammond said.