I understand that this is the first year at the new place but Lehman has a ways to go to get it right. UIL doesn’t look at places the way most directors would I guess. The unloading and loading of equipment was horrible. It’s not their fault. It’s just the way the building and roads are built. They are not set up in a great way to have morning groups load back up and afternoon people unload at the same time. Plus cell service was mostly nonexistent in the building.
Re: TSSEC
Posted by Hays on 5/26/2026, 8:35 am, in reply to "TSSEC"
Just wanted to jump on here and say the Hays staff did a great job at their site for TSSEC. The volunteers were extremely helpful throughout the day and made it a positive experience for us. Thanks to all the site hosts for working tirelessly at the end of the semester when everyone is running on empty. We took a bus ride home for several hours after the event and our kids were buzzing with excitement the entire time, regardless of their rating.
Re: TSSEC
Posted by STXBD on 5/25/2026, 6:56 pm, in reply to "TSSEC"
I truly appreciate Lehman HS Band Directors, students, parents and other volunteers for hosting this huge event.
My 2 cents to UIL….satellite TSSEC.
Re: TSSEC
Posted by DesertJazz on 5/24/2026, 10:12 am, in reply to "TSSEC"
For any Lehman staff who read this, please note that I felt you had great staff and students! They were all friendly and helpful throughout my experiences! I’m listing these issues in hopes that it might help you understand where we ran into snags.
1) There was a lot of obvious construction going on... Not sure when that’s done, if they can redo the plan to let you just to park and unload/load without moving to make it easier. The drop-off area might have worked if it hadn’t been for some charter buses refusing to move at the front of the line. We finally followed the lead of some other buses and went the ‘wrong way’ to get to the turnaround circle around the buses that were stuck.
The problem will probably be pretty static, though, with the neighborhoods being locked into only two ways in/out. They really need someone directing traffic at exits and at the front of that line that wasn’t students - that might help if it was a police officer telling the charter buses to move or be ticketed, for instance...?
Vehicle flow was definitely an issue, as OP mentioned, we arrived in the morning and were trying to leave around 12:20 or so. The two inflow and outflow groups couldn’t operate at the same time as they are.
2) I agree that cell service was an issue since we communicate constantly between us to make sure we track changes in times, who’s running behind, where people are for sign-outs, etc. Not sure if guest Wi-Fi could be enabled to help with that.
3) Warm-Up area was... a little undefined to me. I would recommend much more signage and additional staff/volunteers to corral people. I think it was wise to use the upstairs areas for rooms - it definitely at least mitigated the bleed there. Thank you for having someone available to operate the elevator so we could get up there with our speaker cart!
4) Security: This was something that my students and a parent noted. For an event as large as this, it felt very lightly secured. I know I saw an SRO in an office, but even for the 2A Area Marching Contest we host, we now have 3 sheriff's deputies on site and helping out. I do not personally want to have to do the whole rigamarole of metal detectors, searched bags, etc., but with everything that's happened at some events it might be a good idea to have a more obvious presence there. I hate to think like this, but once they said that I couldn't help but analyze that there is a potential problem there. (I hate the way things have gone in this world)
All that criticism, I appreciated that the doors were all more than wide enough for equipment - something that you had to really plan for at Hendrickson. Again, the staff and students were all really helpful! Thanks for hosting! I know it was a lot of work for you all!
Re: TSSEC
Posted by Yeah... on 5/26/2026, 8:25 am, in reply to "Re: TSSEC"
...my take:
1. LHS Directors & Staff, Helpers, etc. FANTASTIC
Now...the issues that need addressed, and most of these are not the fault of the staff:
2. Neighborhood area with two ways in/out using small, narrow roads.
3. Construction, IIRC this was not mentioned in any of the information I received prior to Saturday (I know it wasn't marked on the map). It is what it is, but I can make adjustments if I know about it ahead of time. Caused a lot of congestion in the parking lot...even in the late afternoon when my student performed.
4. Signage, small and easy to miss. Bigger signs, or more of them.
Re: TSSEC
Posted by Help Desk on 5/26/2026, 11:49 am, in reply to "Re: TSSEC"
I did appreciate that there were Info Desks to help guide people to rooms. I liked that a lot, could use more, especially upstairs!
