Approved  FCHS Marching Band fee structure for the 2003 marching season based on a few key factors:

1.  Fees assessed for participation in marching band do not cover the entire cost of the marching band program.  In 2002, the cost assessed to students was $450, while the cost to provide the marching band program was $650 per student.  The additional cost is covered by fundraisers that go into the general band fund like Miss Pride, the concession stand at home football games, dinner concerts, and the Lafayette Marching Classic.  While the Fayette County Board of Education is generous in supporting the band programs in all Fayette County schools, they do not allocate money for extracurricular activities like marching band or sports.

2.  The number of students participating in the marching program will decline due to the opening of the Whitewater High School this fall.  While the number of student participants will decline, many of the marching band costs are fixed costs and will not be lower just because we have less participation. 

3.  The cost per student to offer a nationally recognized marching band program will be $650 again in 2003.  This includes band camp costs, on the field section instructors, music, drills, school bus drivers for away games and competitions, uniform cleaning, etc.  This cost is for a basic, no frills operation.  Every effort is made to reduce costs while maintaining a nationally recognized marching band program.  The cost of purchasing new uniforms is not included in the above costs or fees.

 What is the new fee structure? 

Marching Band and Majorettes:  The per student charge for marching band will be $650 with the opportunity to earn 3 volunteer fundraising credits worth $50 each to offset the cost.  At the audition in the April, a $100 deposit is due to secure your students place on the marching band field.  On both June 1st and July 1st, a $200 payment is due by those families that elect to participate in the volunteer fundraising credit, and $275 is due by those families that choose not to participate in the fundraising credit. 

Color Guard (returning) The per student charge for marching band will be $830 with the opportunity to earn 3 volunteer fundraising credits worth $50 each to offset the cost.  Once the color guard has been selected in April, a $100 deposit is due to secure your students place on the marching band field.  On both June 1st and July 1st, a $290 payment is due by those families that elect to participate in the volunteer fundraising credit, and $365 is due by those families that choose not to participate in the fundraising credit. 

Color Guard (new) The per student charge for marching band will be $950 with the opportunity to earn 3 volunteer fundraising credits worth $50 each to offset the cost.  Once the color guard has been selected in April, a $100 deposit is due to secure your students place on the marching band field.  On both June 1st and July 1st, a $350 payment is due by those families that elect to participate in the volunteer fundraising credit, and $425 is due by those families that choose not to participate in the fundraising credit. 

If the $100 deposit is not paid in April, the drill will not include a position for that student, and they will be considered an alternate until a open spot becomes available.

A 5% reduction will be allowed to those accounts that are paid in full by the July 1 due date.  A 5% late fee will be assessed on the balance of each account that is not paid in full on July 2nd.  Since the majority of marching band fees are paid out in July for band camp, the band boosters organization cannot cover $150,000 of expense without each student paying their fees on time.  This new fee structure applies to all members of the marching band including color guard and majorettes. 

 What if our family has a hardship and cannot pay by the full fee by July 1st?  Before July 1, contact the FCHS Band Boosters Executive Board designee to work through your payment schedule individually.  If contact with the band booster organization is not made prior to July 1^st, late fees will be assessed. 

 What is a volunteer fundraising credit?  Each credit is worth approximately 4 hours of volunteering in activities that raise funds for the general band account.  The general band account is used to reduce the fees to all marching band participants.

 Why are volunteer fundraising credits necessary?  As you can see, the cost of the band program is more than the marching fees assessed to your student.  Fundraisers that go into the general band fund and offset the additional cost for all students cover the remainder of the cost.  Volunteers are needed to make fundraisers successful, but more importantly, the FCHS Band Boosters needs your good ideas.  With 200 + families participating in the marching band, there are a lot of innovative ideas that could be utilized to help the band boosters be more successful.  Not only that, but we have a lot of fun working together to achieve a worthwhile goal for our students. Structured participation will promote parental involvement and achieve more profitable fundraisers that will take the burden off the handful of parents that currently do the majority of the work. It is designed to make the FCHS band program equitable and fair for all participating families.

 What are examples of activities qualify for the volunteer fundraising credits?  There are many opportunities available.  Some of the opportunities include planning and working the Miss Pride pageant, working the concession stand during home football games, selling ads for programs to major fundraisers, soliciting donations and working the Golf Tournament and pancake breakfast, working on any of the committees necessary to run the Lafayette Marching Classic and helping with the planning and implementation of the concert dinners.  Some volunteer opportunities that don't raise funds will not be awarded credit such as chaperoning away football games, competitions, or field trips or accepting a position on the executive board.  Also, individual fundraisers that fund student accounts do not qualify.  Examples of individual fundraisers that do not qualify for the volunteer fundraising credit are Yankee Candle sales, cookie dough sales, Hi Fi Buys Amphitheater concerts, etc. 

 Are all credits valued the same?  No, leadership positions maybe worth more than 1 credit, while working at one 4 hour event may count as one credit.  Leadership positions involve more time to plan the event, contact companies in the community for sponsorship, and schedule workers for the event, etc. 

 How does my family sign up for volunteer opportunities?  On May 1st a listing of volunteer positions, the responsibilities of the position and the corresponding volunteer credit will be distributed to each marching band family.  Each family will submit their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices of events to fulfill each of their volunteer credits.  The volunteer positions will be filled based on the date and time their choices were returned to the band booster designee.  As positions in one event are filled, families will be moved to other events within their 2nd and 3rd choices where possible.

 What if my family cannot fulfill the volunteer commitment?  While we prefer to have you volunteer to make the band boosters a better organization, we recognize this is not possible for all families.  In those cases, families may elect to pay $50 for each credit.  All 3 credits can be satisfied by paying $150 by the July 1 deadline.  This is in addition to the $500 marching fee. 

 Can students earn volunteer fundraising credits?  Yes, as long as the volunteer opportunity does not interfere with their band or school commitment, students can earn up to 2 of the 3 credits.

 What happens if an event is cancelled?  If an event is cancelled, volunteers that have already fulfilled their commitment for that event (such as seeking sponsors prior to the event) will still receive their credit.  If the event is cancelled before the volunteer commitment is fulfilled, then the family will be given a choice of available volunteer activities and assigned another event as a substitute. 

 What happens if I sign up to volunteer for an activity and cannot fulfill my obligation?  At least a week prior to the date of your commitment, you can call a member of the executive board and ask to be switched to another fundraiser with open positions that better fits your schedule.  If you have volunteer fundraising credits that aren’t scheduled and haven't been fulfilled on April 1, you will be assessed $50 for each credit not fulfilled.  Payments for these credits will be due no later than May 1 or a student obligation will be turned into Fayette County High School.  A student obligation is the administrative process to handle all student fees that are not paid.  Students do not receive class schedules or graduate until the obligation is cleared.

 When is the new fee schedule effective?  The new schedule will go into effect for the 2003 marching season.  Volunteer fundraising credits will begin in June 2003 and continue through May 2004.

Marching band is a great activity for your student to be involved in.  Students learn leadership, responsibility, teamwork, work ethic and much more - skills that will benefit them throughout their lives and they have fun, too!  We strive to provide the best, most cost efficient opportunity possible for all students.  We invite you to join us in our endeavor.