Individual Accounts

    The financial support of the band program provides both a challenge as well as a considerable opportunity for band members and their families.  The School Board provides a limited amount of money for the repair of school-owned instruments.  Therefore, the Band Booster Club must generate the additional funds that are an absolute necessity in order to have a meaningful and successful program.

    The Booster Club's Executive Board, which includes the directors and club officers, develops and submits a comprehensive budget of expenses for the upcoming school year.  This budget is amended, if necessary, and approved by the John Overton Band Booster Club, Inc., at the July/August meeting.  All parents/guardians of students who are enrolled in a band class are voting members of the Band Booster Club.  The amount of the budget is divided equally among the number of students.  This amount is called the Individual Student Account.

    The Individual Student Account for the 2006 Competitive Marching Band (first semester) will be that amount set and approved by the Booster Club at the Registration and Orientation Meeting before band camp.  The payment for the Competitive Marching Band may be paid in one payment or over monthly installments as set forth in the Financial Contract to be signed upon joining the Competitive Marching Band.

    Any student not participating in the Competitive Marching Band will be able to march in the pre-game show, parades, and special events.  There will be no required fees except for uniform fees, band shoes, gloves, red band shirt, and some transportation fees to participate in this performing organization.

    The Individual Student Account for the Winter/Spring Budget (second semester) will also be an amount set and approved by the Band Booster Club.

    The fees for Summer Camps, uniforms, and winter activities are in addition to the Individual Student Accounts.  All Individual Student Account payments and fees must be paid according to the outlined schedule of payments, or the student will be placed on alternate status.

    An important and beneficial part of the total band experience is the opportunity to work together and earn the funds needed to support the Individual Account and entire band program.  From this the student learns the necessity of making the money to support his/her activities, budget for the required payments, as well as to work together with other band members and parents.  The team-building that goes on during these work experiences supports the close working group that the band must be in order to perform up to the John Overton Band standards.

    These work experiences along with the other fund raising opportunities provide more than enough opportunity for every student to pay all Individual Account expenses without having to make any out-of-pocket payments.  Please note that any fundraising money intended to pay all or part of a payment must be turned in by the last of the month prior to the payment date.  All money for fundraising items and/or all unsold products must be turned in within two weeks of the deadline for credit to be received.

    Monthly statements of your account will be mailed to your home.  They should be scrutinized closely and any questions or errors brought to the attention of the Treasurer in writing within 45 days.  After that period, statements will be deemed correct no matter what.

    Budget overpayment may be refunded upon request if the request is made in writing prior to April 1, 2007. (This applies only to payments made out-of-pocket.  IRS regulations prohibit cash refunds of fundraising credits).  If you have paid your Competitive Marching Band budget, the Winter/Spring budget, and all additional band fees (Band Camp, uniform fees, winter activity fees, and trip fees), and there remains a credit balance in your account, you have these options:

1. You can request a refund in writing by April 1, 2007 (must be out-of-pocket funds);
2. You can request that your credit balance be transferred to your next year's account (written request by April 1, 2007);
3. You can donate the credit to the general band budget or the Vernon Branson Scholarship Fund.

    If you have not expressed a written preference by the April 1 deadline, the allocation of any excess funds as well as funds raised after April 1, 2007, will be determined by the Band Booster Executive Board.