Apalachee Marching Band to Buy New Uniforms with Loan from BOE

The marching band will perform wearing new uniforms next year after Barrow County Board of Education members voted unanimously Tuesday to give the school a loan.

But before the vote, board members voiced concerns about what providing the money up front could mean in the future.

“Those are really sharp looking uniforms and I don’t doubt that they need them,” said Lynn Stevens, who represents District 5. “My concern is that if we do that we open up the checkbook and … we’re essentially saying we have to do the same for Winder-Barrow and other groups that come before the board.”

The school had secured $22,075.20 through fundraising efforts toward the total cost of $40,075.20 for 165 uniforms. The loan for the remaining $18,000 will be repaid over four years.

The new uniforms will replace those the band has worn for the past 11 years.

William Bramlett, who represents District 2, said he didn’t see offering the loan as “opening the door” for other schools and groups to ask for the same.

“I think we need to embrace the efforts of our community,” Bramlett said. “We’re not opening the door for us spending, we’re embracing the efforts on accepting donated funds. I just want us to change our thought process there.”

Rickey Bailey, the District 6 representative, said he didn’t want to see the band go without uniforms because fundraising efforts didn’t meet the total cost.

“They’re at the mercy of the economy just like we are,” Bailey said. “I think we do it like we always do, on a case by case basis (in regard to future requests). They’re not looking for us to foot the bill.”

Board members also approved revisions in the second phase of the school system’s policy review, revisions to the student code of conduct and contracts for legal services with Dan Murphy of McLocklin & Murphy of Winder, and Harben & Hartley of Gainesville.

A $11,066 project to install exterior metal steps and railings at the alternative school on Church Street was also approved. Riverside Steel of Winder will complete the work.