Some Mandan dance team parents question how early is too early for practice.

The members of the varsity squad meet at 5:30 a.m. five days a week. Concerns over the time were addressed at the Mandan School Board meeting Monday.

The issue was brought up by dance team parent Julie Lidstrom.

"My daughter does attend at 5:30 (a.m.) because that's when it is set," Lidstrom said. "I still don't agree with it."

Concerns range from driving in the dark to poor academic performance. Also, younger students, like Lidstrom's daughter, are in school until 3 p.m., while some of the older students are out in the early afternoon, she said.

Dance team members Lisa Meyers and Blake Thilmony disagree that the early hour affects them. Both said they hold jobs, keep up with school work and take some advanced classes, in some cases for college credit.

"It's the most productive practice," Thilmony said. "I'm more attentive at school."

Any adjustments she's made have been to her sleep schedule, she said.

Meyers agreed with Thilmony. She also likes that it gives the assistant coach time to be with family in the evening, Meyers said.

The team has new coaches this year, both of whom are not otherwise employed in the district. The team members who spoke said they like the coaches and that they're learning a lot that can help them in dance competitions.

Katie Parker is the coach. Her work schedule is part of why the team has morning practices instead of evening practices.

"The assistant coach and Iwork until 5 or later," she said.

She didn't want to do evening practices - for instance at 8 p.m. - because it could keep the team members up later than usual, Parker said. She also has commitments to Just for Kix a few nights a week.

Lidstrom, however, is worried about the girls driving in the winter when it's cold and possibly snowy or icy. Another parent, Connie Berland, was concerned about how long the girls would be at school.

The morning practices give the girls the option of playing other sports, said parent Becky Thilmony. She also disagrees that the time is a problem.

"The day is still 24 hours long," she said. "If it's in the evening, the girls will miss football and basketball games, unless they're scheduled to dance."

Some school board members, like Jill Goetz and Lee Fleischer, were concerned if the practice time affected participation. The team has 11 varsity and the junior varsity team has seven members. The junior varsity team practices from 5 to 7 p.m.

The dance team parents had a meeting earlier this month, and the majority of parents decided to leave it to the dance team members and coach on when to meet for practice.

"You're not going to please all of us," Becky Thilmony said. "The majority decided the girls and coach should pick the time."

The school board wants the time to be re-evaluated at the next regular meeting in October.

"My concern is academics … As a board member, I think a job and student life should come after school (work)," board member Kirsten Baesler said.

The dance team are not alone in early-morning practices. The cheerleaders also practice at 5:30 a.m., Athletic Director Lorell Jungling said.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)