Pearce Area Band Club - Supporting the MIGHTY MUSTANG BAND

What is a Band Assessment?
A band assessment is the non-school provided costs for a student in band or color guard. The Assessments Directors will mail assessment statements to you several times during the year. Statements will include information on assessed fees, payments made, service credits received, and remaining balances.

Who do I contact if I have questions about my assessment statement?
The Assessments Directors for 2007 - 2008 are Amber Fletcher and Barbara White. Please email questions to afletcher@atxq.com  or bjwhite5@comcast.net. Please write or call any time you have a question about your assessment statement and/or balances.

What does the Band Assessment cover?
For the Pearce High School Band, non-school provided funds are required in three areas:

• REGISTRATION
  "Registration" fees are assessed for expenses such as gloves, shoes, uniform cleaning, refreshments during marching season, color guard uniforms and bags, instrument rentals, and more. The amount to be paid varies depending on the individual equipment needs of the students, the number of students in the band program, and whether your student marches or is in the color guard or is a drum major. This is a required fee for all band and color guard students (including color guard who are not in a concert band), and it is paid at band registration during summer band.
• OPERATIONS
  "Operations" money is used to support all activities of the band not covered under the headings of registration and spring trip. Supplies, staff assistance, entry fees, clinicians, and student development are examples of Operations expenses. The Operations fee for 2007 - 2008 is approximately $170. This is a required fee for all band and color guard students (including color guard not in a concert band) and will be due in October.
• SPRING TRIP
  This year the spring trip destination has not yet been announced. Students must pay the cost of transportation, accommodations, and other miscellaneous trip expenses. We expect that the trip fee will be approximately $500.  The first payment (approximately 1/3 of the trip fee) is usually due in December. The second payment consisting of the second 1/3 of trip fees is usually due in February, and any unpaid Registration and/or Operations fees, along with the balance of the trip fees is due prior to final trip deadlines. To aid in spreading out this cost, you may make partial payments at any time before the fee is due.

What else do I need to know about Assessments?

• All cash payments, cash credits, and service recognition are first applied against previously unpaid fees and then against this year's fees in the order that they are assessed.
  
• Any balances left in your account at the end of the year are automatically carried over into next year. If your child is a senior this year, you will receive a letter at the end of the year notifying you of any refund that you may be due. Account balances may also be transferred to consecutive siblings. Refunds can be made up to the cash amount you have actually paid into your account.
  
• Assessment statements will be mailed to you as payments are due throughout the year.
  
• You may make installment payments toward your fees at any time before the fee is due.
  
• If you are unable to pay a fee any time you receive a bill, please contact the current Assessments Director. We would be more than happy to work with you to come up with a payment schedule that fits your family's needs.
  
• All fees must be paid prior to the trip fee deadline (TBD), in order for your child to participate in the spring trip. We are hoping that there will be some travel scholarships available later this year.
  

  Can I reduce the Band Assessment I owe?
  We encourage all students and parents to help with efforts in raising funds to support the band by participating in band fundraisers such as selling magazines, finding sponsors for ads in the football program, soliciting sponsors/donations for the annual MMB March-a-Thon, soliciting items for the annual auction, purchasing scrip, and selling raffle tickets during auction time.

  MMB March-a-Thon (TBD) - We've now done two annual March-a-Thons! This exciting event takes place each fall and is intended to provide an opportunity for all band students to participate in this community wide effort to raise funds and awareness for the band. The concept is simple: we will march up to 10 miles, and our students will solicit donors to sponsor them. The March-a-Thon is a mandatory event - not to be missed by parents either! All students will march - whether or not they have solicited any sponsors.

  Fall Football Programs - If you find a business to sponsor one of the band's photos in the fall football programs, the band receives a portion of the proceeds. The deadline for ad submission for the 2007 football program has already passed, but keep this idea in mind for next year!

  Magazine Sales - Each year band students sell subscriptions/renew subscriptions to most of the popular magazines. The band receives 40% of the total magazine subscriptions! Magazine sales continue throughout the year.

  Scrip Fundraiser (TBD) - You can participate in our Scrip "shopping cart fundraiser". Scrip is a popular fundraiser because families don't have to sell anything! Members generate revenue by making regular household purchases they would make anyway using pre-paid negotiable gift certificates and cards that are used just like cash. For more information click on the Scrip Fundraiser link Click here

  PABC Auction - Participating in the annual auction by soliciting and obtaining auction items and/or doing volunteer work helps make this event our biggest fundraiser of the year. The Auction Packet you receive at the MMB BBQ contains more detailed information on how you can contribute to this exciting event.

  This page last updated on 7/26/07.