City’s Pipe Band Leader Might Be Getting a Raise

Pipe major Iain Donaldson’s salary could be going up in the near future.

The city of Dunedin and Pinellas County Schools are well on the way to hammering out a cost-sharing agreement that would have both chipping in $20,000 a year to give the longtime band leader a boost in pay, according to the Tampa Bay Times.  

Right now, Donaldson only takes home about $15,000 a year for a job that consumes about 60 hours a week, year round.

His wages come in part from the City of Dunedin, high school booster fundraisers, and the Scottish and Celtic groups' fundraising efforts. 

Donaldson, who directs the City of Dunedin Pipe Band, took over for longtime director Sandy Keith, passed away in February 2012. Keith, who received full-time pay, is credited with expanding the pipe program into the high school and middle schools during his more than 30-year tenure.

Donaldson’s success at the helm is evidenced by Disney's invitation for Dunedin High's Scottish Highlanders to march in Princess Merida's coronation parade in May, an honor bestowed on no other band in the county.

It is unclear at this time how soon an agreement might be worked out between the city and school district.

Check out the Times’ full story here.

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See Also:

• Is City, School Scottish Pipe Band Leader Paid Fairly?