Encore for Colony band

PALMER — The Colony High School marching band may have another chance to get school district funding toward a trip Jan. 20 to play in the Inaugural Parade.

The Mat-Su Borough School Board will decide Wednesday whether to take another look at a request for funding from the band, with a motion to renew the issue on the agenda.

The band was denied money last week during a special meeting called by Board President Jim Colver. During that meeting, the band’s request split the board and ended up failing in a 3-3 vote.

Board member Brian Sullivan, who would have been the swing vote, was traveling out of state when the unscheduled meeting was called. A malfunctioning cell phone kept him from participating in the meeting.

On Monday, Sullivan said he put the request for renewal on the agenda to look into the question of funding again. Sullivan has already publicly stated his support of the funds, meaning if board members vote the same way as last week, with Sullivan’s vote factored in, the funding will likely pass.

But Sullivan’s support doesn’t come without a caveat. He said he’d like to see a requirement of funding in the form of reports from each band member about his or her time in Washington and the parade.

“I’d like to see different academic features,” Sullivan said, referring to conditions of funding.

Still, the board will have to agree to put the issue back on the agenda. Without an agreement to do so, the issue of funding will not be voted on again.

Some board members said last week their chief concern was that by handing out money to the band it would set a precedent for other groups to come looking for funds.

“We cannot be the cash cow,” said board member Sarah Welton, who opposed the funding.

Band director Jamin Burton said last week the band needs $58,000 to afford the trip to Washington, D.C., to play during President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration parade.

The band has been working feverishly to raise the money after officials in the nation’s capital chose the group to march in the parade.

In an interview Monday, Burton said his best guess is the band is still between $6,000 and $10,000 short.

He said another possible chance to convince to board to help is renewing his confidence.

“I’m hopeful that it will go how we need it to go,” Burton said.

Efforts to get enough money for what many call a once-in-a-lifetime experience have been a nail-bitter for band members and parents.

Burton said past fundraising for trips to Hawaii, Boston and other locations have gone smoothly. What stifled the effort for this trip was the small amount of time the band had to raise funds after being accepted to play.

Colver, along with board members Myrl Thompson and R. Ole Larson, said they think giving the funds to help the band get to Washington is acceptable because of the significance of the event.

The Colony band is one of the few approved to play out of many applicants.

The band’s request for funding also appears to have split the community. Supporters argue the funding should be given on account of the historic inaugural event. Critics, however, say giving funds to the band is a slippery slope that will open the spigot on a flood of monetary requests from other student groups.

Burton said he disagrees, pointing out after last week’s meeting that another school group in the Valley is unlikely to be invited to a historic inauguration.

Band member Gayle Hoyt, a senior who’s played in the band since his freshman year, said the board’s decision was disappointing, but he was still optimistic the band will go.

It also appears the band has had some luck in catching up with their goal.

Burton said after the board funds were defeated last week, band members raised about $15,000 by themselves.

That was the same amount up for approval by the board.

Burton also previously said if the band doesn’t have the necessary funds by Jan. 10, the trip will be called off. On Monday, he had changed his tune, vowing to put the remainder of the trip on his credit card if need be.

“Right now, the story is we’re going,” he said. “End of story.”

People interested in donating can still do so, Burton said. The band will host a spaghetti dinner tonight at the Palmer Elks Lodge, and is still accepting donations on the music boosters Web site and at Wells Fargo banks.

The school board meeting is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. in the Palmer High School Upper Library.

Donors can also contribute at: www.chsmusicboosters.com and at Wells Fargo banks.

Spaghetti feed

When: 5 to 8 p.m., tonight

Where: Palmer Elks Lodge

How much: $10 per plate, $5 for children under 12