At last night’s monthly meeting the USD 402 Board of Education members approved new band uniforms for the Augusta High School band. 

District Band Director Todd Hollis told board members, “We’ve had the same 120 uniforms since 1991.  The uniforms have been taken care of, but they are definitely showing wear and are out of style.  We’re going to more and more festivals and new uniforms are needed.”

He further explained that it is getting harder to fit the students in the old uniforms, “It seems kids are getting bigger and taller.  With the new design of the uniform pants, it will be much easier.”

Keeping the white from yellowing on the old uniforms has been a chore and Hollis kept that in mind with the new uniforms.

“There are no stripes on the pants, no spatz to wear and the Oriole emblem on coat sleeves contains the only white.”

 Fruhauf Uniforms of Wichita submitted the low bid of $65,326.50 for 150 uniforms.  The number of uniforms is expected to be appropriate to accommodate the various sizes of the students and for the growth of the band program.

“Fruhauf makes good uniforms -- they’ve been around a long time and there are not a lot of uniform companies.  They are in Wichita and service will be excellent.  They’ll take good care of us,” Hollis said.

The board unanimously approved the purchase.

In other business the board also approved the 2008 Summer Driver’s Education Program.  Assistant Superintendent John Black reported that driver’s education enrollment is down from last year, but three instructors will be needed.
The following dates are the starting dates for the course:
Classroom - May 3 - May 30, 2008
Driving - May 19 - July 5, 2008.

Jeff Regier, Doug Jefferson and David Stephenson will be the instructors.  Their salary has gone from $23.50 hourly to $24 this year.  However, fees for enrollment remain the same at $140 plus $2 processing fee.

Board members were also given an update on the first meeting of the Bond Campaign Committee. 

Superintendent Jim Lentz reported, “Our next meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 27 and we want to get the word out.  Everyone needs to bring a friend and attend.  We need to encourage people to register to vote and we need to answer people’s questions concerning the bond issue.”