We are calling on our school to reinstate a two-year Color Guard captain who was unfairly removed from the team due to missing summer practice—a session that was previously not mandatory. She has been the heart of this program, recruiting new members, building up team morale, and creating the foundation we stand on today. Removing her is not only unjust—it’s a disservice to the entire team.

Beyond this issue, there are deeper concerns about how the program is currently being run. Melissa, the adult in charge, regularly disrespects students, creates a toxic environment, turns team members against one another, and shuts down any feedback. Her leadership has caused several students to leave or be removed unfairly.

More disturbingly, her husband Matt, who is now employed at Lakeville North High School, has made inappropriate comments to team members. He has spoken about their appearance—including their feet and faces—in ways that make the girls uncomfortable. These comments are entirely unprofessional and have no place in a school-sanctioned activity.

To make matters worse, when students began speaking out about these issues, their voices were silenced. Lakeville South’s band directors have taken down the original social media post that called attention to this injustice and are threatening students with consequences for simply wanting change. This is a direct attempt to suppress student voices and discourage freedom of speech. No student should fear punishment for standing up for what is right.

This petition is about protecting the values of respect, fairness, and safety in our Color Guard program—and in our school community as a whole. We demand the reinstatement of our captain, accountability for leadership, and an end to the silencing of students who speak up.