This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Show Me The Money!

Three very upset Trumbull High School band parents made that plea - different words, same meaning - at Tuesday evening’s Board of Education meeting.

Every education board meeting opens with public comment - up to three minutes on any relevant topic by any Trumbull resident, typically parents reading statements of concern about a timely issue. Ordinarily the board listens, discussion is rare.

Not so tonight. Tom Touri speaking for himself, his wife Tina and Color Guard parent Christine Ferrara, spoke at the meeting and made two attention grabbing points. First, every student wishing to participate in the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band must pay $740 - an amount Touri called “outrageous,” and up from $350 three years ago (a 28 percent average annual increase).

Find out what's happening in Trumbullwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Second, Touri said, the band is neither a school sponsored nor a taxpayer payer funded activity. It is an independent legal entity – a 501(c)(3).

Last year its 150 members each paid $550, a total of $82,500. A part of this funds a reserve of $32,000. But the “band can’t stay within its budget” and so “uses the reserve like a debit card.” Further, Band Director Peter Horton, “refuses to post the salaries” of its 21 employees.”

Find out what's happening in Trumbullwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parents have not seen the organization’s financial records, there has been no accounting, and the last Treasurer has resigned. Touri believes “an audit is warranted.”

Board member Deborah Herbst said she thought the band’s finances were approved by the superintendent following board discussion, but the board had not discussed the issue.

Member Loretta Chory said she “wants to see their tax filings.”

Ms. Herbst added “I’ve been getting calls,” and asked whether a hold could be put on further payments until Band Director Peter Horton discusses its finances with the board?

A disappointed Touri noted that each year, though the “cost has risen, band members are getting less, and the quality of its shows is declining.”

He also said he had one child in the band through last year, and has a second who wants to join, but $740 is just too much – plus $200 per freshman for a uniform and perhaps $75 for dry cleaning (do football players own their uniforms?).

By way of contrast, Touri commented that Portchester High School, which puts on a “beautiful show... doesn’t allow band members to pay to participate.”

One tool Trumbull’s schools use to keep their cost per pupil among the lowest in this area and just about the lowest in its District Reference Group – 21 districts across the state with similar demographics and pupil needs – is by imposing Pay-to-Participate on students wishing to join activities including the band, interscholastic athletics and the high school musical. We are one of only a handful of Connecticut school districts to do so, and we hold the distinction of having among the highest such fees in the state.

The writer has been a firm opponent of pay to participate in any form (beyond nominal fees for insurance or musical instrument rental). It amounts to a user tax that should be a community expense. In this case, the Trumbull High School Golden Eagle Marching Band is clear asset to the school and the town, an attraction for our students, and perhaps an activity that draws families to our town.

In closing, it should be noted that a 501(c)(3) designation is awarded to charitable organizations by the Internal Revenue Service, and makes them tax exempt. Band parents and other supporters may want to check with their tax preparers or attorneys to determine whether their donations may be taken as tax deductions.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?