VIDEO: Hopatcong Marching Band Parents Ask Board of Ed For $6,500

The Hopatcong High School Band Parents Association asked the Board of Education for funding for 2011-2012 school year to the tune of $6,500 at Monday night's meeting.

President Tom Dougherty told Patch that's "less than 50 percent" of the price it cost the district to fund the band in 2009. The school board cut the band's funding in 2010 while laying off almost 30 teachers and dropping several programs, including freshman sports, after receiving $1.7 million less in state aid than in 2009.

The marching band, however, , like the golf team, and only performed at home games and other events last fall.

The board didn't make a decision Monday night, but several members thanked the HHSBPA for its effort.

"I would like to thank [Dougherty] and the band parents association and [Band Director Matt] Testa for stepping up this year and allowing the kids to have a marching band," board member Sue Madar said. "I think the kids and the parents represent our school district."

Dougherty said the $6,500 would pay for the band director's stipend and travel to away games and competitions.

"The amount we're asking is not exorbitant by any means," Dougherty said.

He added, "Every other expense that the band will incur will be taken care of by the parents organization, whether it be the purchase of music or preparation of instrumentation, food for the kids. That was all covered this year by us and we will continue to cover those expenses."

But Dougherty said he'd understand if the board couldn't fund the program, and asked if it could still be allowed to travel away games and competitions next year.

"That would be a change from this past year," he said. "This past year the band was not allowed to travel and those kids, they missed it. Ask any one of them. They didn't like not being able to go to away games. They didn't like no having a competition to go to.

Dougherty called performing at halftime of home football games "practice."

"That's when they get to put it together, in front of an audience, and show their stuff to the home town," he said. "But their game is competition. That's when they get judged by their peers."

Dougherty also said last fall was a success and that the program was growing. "Year to year, our numbers continue to grow," he said. "We might be small, but we keep getting bigger and that was a promise I made to you last year. We will continue to grow."

Dougherty said the band has already begun preparation for next year, filling several key positions and planning its performance.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said the Board of Education would have to be "consider the return on their investment if they were to divert funds in next year's budget" back to the marching band. "They would have to be convinced this was a prudent move."

Maranzano said Dougherty's speech to the board could only help the marching band.

"It was a good move on behalf of the parents to say publicly, 'This is what we are about and here's what's in it for the children who need this part of their education to remain in tact or in whole,'" he said. "No harm done."