Marching band uniforms get a refresh after 15-plus years

Burke County high school marching bands will look extra spiffy when they take the field this fall. For the first time in at least 15 years, the band members will be sporting new uniforms.

“I have students who are younger than the uniform that they are wearing,” said Chad Higdon, director of bands at R. L. Patton High School for 13 years. “We pride ourselves on taking care of our equipment and facilities. However, normal wear and tear on our uniforms over 16 years has created many issues. We simply need new uniforms. You can only repair clothing so many times.”

Patton High’s Panther Regiment is not alone. 

“Over the years a lot of the materials have been used beyond repair,” said Jonathan Chesson, director of bands at Freedom High School for the past six years. “Jackets have ripped zippers or have also been worn out due to alterations needed for the student wearing them. The uniforms are dated and have put our group at a visual and competitive disadvantage for many years.”

The proposal to buy new uniforms was discussed in the School Board’s work session on Jan. 9. The costs and ages of the uniforms and the number of students involved were presented by BCPS Director of Secondary Education Debbie Jennings and Finance Officer Keith Lawson. 

• East Burke High School has 95 student participants. The uniforms are 15 years old.

• Freedom High School has 151 student participants. The uniforms are 16 years old.

• Draughn High School has 86 student participants. The uniforms are 15 years old.

• Patton High School has 120 student participants. The uniforms are 16 years old. 

The Burke County Board of Education voted unanimously on Jan. 23 to approve $500,000 for replacing band uniforms and purchasing instruments. Nearly $337,000 will be needed to purchase new band uniforms. The remainder will be available, without a sunset, for instrument repair and replacement. This allocation does not impact the $10,000 each band program receives annually for maintenance. 

At-large School Board member Seth P. Hunt Jr. shepherded the allocation through the Board approval process. He said his interest in band uniforms and instruments began with a visit to his barber, Michael Chatham of City Barber Shop. Chatham had a child in band and as Hunt sat in his barber chair, Chatham peppered him with questions about getting the program some help.

As Hunt looked further into the issue, he not only saw the need but was impressed by how much the band boosters already do to support the program – from paying royalties for sheet music to compensating bus drivers for band transportation. 

Hunt looked for avenues to help at a district level. The answer was to use available funds from the purchase of real property. The funds could only be used for a capital expense, and the band uniforms and equipment fit the description. 

Make do with what they had

For many years, the bands have had to get by with worn-out equipment. 

Chesson said, “We are constantly doing band-aid repairs to the current uniforms and the instruments and equipment. All of us in the county have gotten by with making these repairs for so long that the repairs being done are not sustainable any longer. 

“We have gotten by with what we have because we do understand the financial obligations that are required to have a high-performing and excellent-quality band program. Our students have done remarkably well considering some of the equipment they are handed. These make-shift repairs could only go so far.”

Replacement is the only option

The students and band directors do all they can to keep their uniforms and instruments in good working order. But like everything else in this world, some band equipment is beyond repair. 

“All of our equipment is 16 years old. Any item used daily by high school students rarely will last 16 years,” Higdon said. “We try to keep our equipment repaired and in working order, but sometimes equipment really needs to be replaced.”

Chesson added, “We are the only band that has white pants in the county and are one of the last remaining schools that have them in our area. After 15 years, these pants develop stains that cannot be removed; 15 years of wear has meant that 15 years of alterations have had to occur and over time have worn out the material from these alterations. Our plumes and helmets all have issues with missing parts, which are cracked and broken.”

New instruments and uniforms will have a huge impact

Mellophones, baritones, tubas, and percussion equipment sustain the most wear and tear at Patton, Higdon said. Concert tubas are also on the list for replacement at Freedom.

Chesson added, “Duck tape on instruments bought in the 1970s does not allow for our students to be as successful as they can be in this activity -- an activity that in some cases keeps kids coming to school.”

Pride in marching band

New uniforms are very important to students. Higdon related the uniforms to any other clothing. If students were asked to wear clothes from 2007 to school, they would feel uncomfortable. Chesson echoed his sentiment. He believes the updated uniforms and instruments will give students a big boost in self-confidence. They will look and sound their best. 

“Our students were proud to wear what they had before but they knew the disadvantages it brought competitively and their motivation to do well has been affected by this mental block,” Chesson said.

New uniforms will take between three and five months to be completed. All four bands now have the opportunity to modernize their look. In addition, Freedom will no longer wear white pants. The uniforms will be machine washable (instead of dry clean only) and can be adjusted without major alterations. 

“There are a few big ticket items that are coming up for us in the near future, but this amount from the school board will relieve a lot of pressure on our programs in the near short term,” he said.  

Angela Kuper Copeland is the education reporter at The Paper. She may be reached at angela@thepaper.media or 828-445-8595.