It’s one of those annual social media posts or the conversation you’re forced to overhear while waiting for a table. “And do you believe they’re expecting us to pay $2,500 for her show choir outfits? It’s a school thing … we pay taxes … so where do they get off making us pay? I bet it’s illegal. You know the football team never has to pay for anything. Just more proof that the school board cares more about athletics than kids in the arts.”
As a parent who also paid those fees, I understand the frustration. But as for why your local school board doesn’t seem willing to properly fund your child’s show choir, band, or drumline … well, it’s because they can’t. State law won’t let them pay for the things you wish they would.
And no, there’s no funding advantage given to football and other athletics. The school board can’t fund them, either — but there are exceptions. (For those of you sporting your trademark sarcastic grin and thinking, “well, here’s how they actually get more,” this is where I ruin your day.) Generally speaking, school boards can use tax dollars to fund just two things in athletics: the small stipends received by coaches and assistants for their many hours of extra work, and the cost of building and maintaining facilities.
The same rules apply to show choirs, drumlines, and marching bands. The offensive line coach is getting a small stipend in return for the hundreds of hours they provide … and so is the equally dedicated assistant director of the show choir. But just as the school board can’t use tax dollars to pay for this year’s ridiculously expensive show choir ensemble (fashion, not musical), they can’t use that money to pay for football jerseys. Or footballs, for that matter.
If athletics isn’t getting tax dollars, how do they buy those things? Your local school’s athletics program pays for jerseys, equipment, referees, track timers, and whatever else tax dollars can’t be used for by raising the money they need in three ways. First, you have to pay admission to attend most athletic events (still remarkably affordable entertainment). Second, those concession stand favorites generate a big chunk of revenue (so give your kids a few extra dollars to spend). Third, most schools have active booster groups that raise money to support needs and traditions.
Show choirs have similar funding sources. As with all extracurricular funds, every dollar is audited by the state. I’ve known auditors to count every ticket stub for every game in a given year to see if it matched what our books said. We were gently scolded for being short two stubs one year. No, I’m not kidding.
There is one exception: school boards are allowed (but not required) to pay half the cost of marching band uniforms through a dollar-for-dollar match. The school board cannot commit to paying a penny until a booster organization has raised their half. The boosters have to make a formal request, and the board must formally accept it. Not for drumline outfits, show choir costumes, choir robes — only marching band uniforms.
Why just band uniforms? I’m pretty sure that somewhere in the past, there’s a state legislator who had a neighbor who would never shut up about the cost of their kid’s band uniforms. It’s conjecture … but I’m 99 percent sure I’m right.