Gotta pay for that 24/7 security somehow. Rough to make do on a $4B budget where most of the funding goes to non-classroom items.

Just got billed too for 3 kids.
Stem- $20
FACS- $25
Guitar- $20
Ceramics- $90 (!!! This one hurts a little)

When my kid was in performance choir he had to participate in Tag day each year and also sold Script and donuts. FCPS contributed nothing. His sales were good so there was not an extra fee to go to Orlando, Chicago, Branson.

Oh grow up. Pay the fee & let your kid enjoy the band.

Anonymous wrote:In such a well-funded district where band kids at our HS are required to go door-to-door asking for money from neighbors on Tag Day (and this is the biggest fundraiser, raising something like $20k), why is it that we still have to pay a $50 band fee?? We do not rent an instrument, already supplement with outside lessons, and purchased an overpriced home for this “great” district. Why do I constantly feel nickel and dimed? Anyone else annoyed? What fees are you paying for your kid’s public education?

I am probably in the same pyramid, and we pay $150 for our chorus fee. It pays for the accompanists, transportation, uniforms, etc. But we can’t do the same level of fundraising you do (we are not permitted to go door-to-door because band already does that).

For our marching band, fees are $100, and could be more depending on if the child needs marching shoes or an instrument rental.

The money covers the uniform costs, uniform cleanings, two sets of band t-shirts and shorts, band sweatpants, beanie, and two sets of gloves. It also covers music, choreography, fees for competitions, and other expenses to run the program.

Band boosters use funds to transport equipment to competitions (U-Haul trucks), as well as pay for bottled water and snacks during competitions, parties for the kids, banquets and celebrations, senior pictures and banners, scholarships for students, drum major camp for band leaders, insurance to cover any liabilities, and so on.

Believe me, it all starts to add up.

Signed,

A Band Booster Treasurer

Engineering fee for 7th grader. It's only $20, tho.

Art class fee in middle school. FACS class fee. These aren’t even extra curriculars.

Is your kid in marching band? At our school, the fee pays for things like shoes & uniform cleaning. TAG Day funds are used for things like the band trip and clinicians.

Anonymous wrote:It's no secret that specialized activities and extra curriculum and all sports receive 0 funding from FCPS. Small stipend for coaching if anything. Hence the PTA, boosters, and fundraising.

But my kid is also raising money going door to door? With zero benefit apparently.

Most of our taxes fund everything Richmond and south.
The ratio of taxes to population is skewed so Fairfax Co actually doesn't get back what we/taxpayers put in.

To make up for this shortfall? Local taxes like restaurant, property, local sales tax, and bag tax (which is supposed to be for the environment, but...?).

My marching band sold citrus fruit in the 1980’s to raise money for the marching band. The money provided by the school covered the director and that is about it. If you wanted to compete you needed someone to choreograph the show, work with the different sections, and work with the color guard. The more coaches you had, the more money you needed. So you can do a very basic street parade marching band based on the funds provided by the school and then raise more if you want to do more.

You chooses an overpriced home. Dont Don’t do it. Simple.

It's no secret that specialized activities and extra curriculum and all sports receive 0 funding from FCPS. Small stipend for coaching if anything. Hence the PTA, boosters, and fundraising.

In such a well-funded district where band kids at our HS are required to go door-to-door asking for money from neighbors on Tag Day (and this is the biggest fundraiser, raising something like $20k), why is it that we still have to pay a $50 band fee?? We do not rent an instrument, already supplement with outside lessons, and purchased an overpriced home for this “great” district. Why do I constantly feel nickel and dimed? Anyone else annoyed? What fees are you paying for your kid’s public education?