Pottsgrove band members practice last fall.
LOWER POTTSGROVE PA – Persistent – some might even say annoying – lobbying by teachers, parents and students, who urged the Pottsgrove School District to buy a new trailer to carry equipment for its High School band, paid off Tuesday (Aug. 11, 2009). The question now is, will the trailer arrive in time for the start of the fall band season?
The band trailer’s purchase from winning bidder T.P. Trailers Inc., for $9,565, was unanimously approved by the district Board of School Directors during the first of its two August meetings in administrative offices on Kauffman Road. Another $7,500 has been budgeted for painting the trailer exterior and fitting it inside with shelves and holders.
The start of school is just 20 days away, on Aug. 31 (2009; Monday). The order for the trailer won’t be placed until today (Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009) at the earliest. So once the purchase was authorized, the greatest worry for directors was whether the band has a backup plan to transport its equipment if the trailer arrival is somehow delayed. It does, district Business Administrator David Nester said.
The trailer could not be ordered without board approval. Funds for its purchase were included in the 2009-2010 district budget. Nester noted Tuesday’s meeting was the first chance board members had to act on budgeted purchases since June, when the spending plan was adopted.
Obtaining the trailer is the culmination of months of activism by band boosters. Board President Michael Neiffer earlier this year publicly complained on at least two occasions that band representatives kept asking for his support of its purchase and inclusion in the budget. Another board member privately said she too had been lobbied more than once.
The Pottsgrove Music League is a volunteer group that raises funds, provides chaperones for, and helps support high school band, chorus, and orchestra activities throughout the school year. A schedule of the band’s Fall 2009 events is expected to be posted soon on the league’s web page, but was not available today.
Related (to the Pottsgrove School Board’s Aug. 11 meeting):
- School Board OKs Administrative Switch
- Lobbying Pays Off In Band Trailer Purchase
- Superintendent Confirms Plan To Switch Administrators
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