I was honored to represent the C

The LCHS band has a long history of excellence and now they're having to make do with 30-year-old uniforms. According to the band director, it would cost about $61,000.00 to outfit the entire 115 member band with new uniforms. Donations have already been committed by a couple of organizations, but the school board has not committed to the funding any of the costs. That's absurd.

According to their most recent audit, the Lenoir City School Board had well over eight million dollars...that's $8,000,000.00 in their unrestricted, general fund, fund balance. Yet, they hesitate to buy the new uniforms for the band? Come on guys, what are you thinking. No other organizations should have to be making donations and the band director shouldn't have to be out begging for money. The school board should foot the entire bill if they really support the band. They sure seem to have enough money to do everything else they want to do like putting turf on the football and baseball fields at nearly a million dollars just because Loudon did.

In a related story, Mayor Tony Aikens took to his official Facebook propaganda page to tout a donation to the band uniform campaign by the benevolent mayor and council.

What a crock, anything for a photo opt. You know, that same benevolent mayor and council charge the Lenoir City school system $14,000.00 per year in Rain Tax? So in the years the Rain Tax has been in place, the benevolent mayor and council have drained nearly a hundred thousand dollars from the school system. Now they want some kind of pat on the back for giving them back $10,000.00, of their own money? If the benevolent mayor and council hadn't been sucking the school system dry for years now, who knows, they might have had just enough money to buy those uniforms. Heck, the benevolent mayor and council will spend that much money on one junket to Gulf Shores, Alabama every year.

I hope Lenoir City residents can see what a sham and disgrace their city government really is.

Lenoir City High School Marching Band hopes to debut new uniforms on the field in the next few years.

Zach Slimp, band director, recently petitioned Lenoir City Board of Education members for funding to help meet the need.

“I have some of the best students I’ve ever met in my life, and I want them to be represented and I want their uniforms to show that,” Slimp said. “I think it’s both important from a numerical mathematical standpoint, but also as reputation as we are the Lenoir City High School band.

“We want to show that we mean business, and so it’s super important for me that they look the part and they look as good as their football playing teammates who are also wearing new uniforms on their new field,” he added. “We want to make sure that we kind of fit the bill in that regard.”

The uniforms come in several parts, including a coat featuring the school’s colors and bibbers that serve as overalls/pants.

Former director Ric Best oversaw the purchase of uniforms in 1993 and Slimp’s predecessor, Adam Huff, updated the coats 15 years later, Slimp said during the Feb. 9 meeting.

Slimp said that means the pants and hats worn by students are 30 years old. Volunteers associated with the LCHS Band Boosters constantly mend the uniforms.

Some uniforms have broken zippers, stains and are held together using duct tape and shoelaces. The logo on some of the hats has also been chipped off.

With new uniforms would come an updated design, Slimp said.

Current uniforms have a more traditional style with bulky shapes and big, bendable buttons that are easily breakable. Slimp said the goal would be to pay attention to small details, including the use of a marching band logo. Most uniforms have a shelf life of 10-20 years, he said.

The purchase of 115 complete uniforms would cost an estimated $60,950. The Panther Foundation has offered to donate $6,000, the band boosters committed $12,000 and the band’s school account has $4,000 available. The additional $38,950 could take 11 years to raise, Slimp said.

He asked the BOE to cover 50% of the overall cost. With donations applied, the remaining funds could be raised in two years.

Slimp said the band will have to purchase additional bibbers for the upcoming season since they do not have functioning pairs for the projected 75 students.

“That is the big thing, we don’t have enough uniforms for the kids that we’re going to get next year,” Slimp said. “Which means this year we’re going to have to go and buy some more bibs regardless, which is easily doable and not impossible, but if we’re gonna update one piece, I think it’s just best to do the full thing. … Not only is it important for numbers for the kids who are going to be wearing them, but it’s equally important for image.

“When I was in high school, I was in a band who was denied from Disney because our uniforms were too old,” he added. “Now that wasn’t this ensemble, but I’ve been in that position, and when it’s not the kids’ fault it’s the worst thing in the world because they can’t march and it’s because of what they’re wearing, not who they are.”

BOE Member Chris Clabough expressed support for the purchase if the funds are available. BOE Member Glenn McNish said after the meeting he hopes the BOE could fund the balance so the band doesn’t have to wait two years to begin the process.

Mitch Ledbetter, BOE chairman, said the board is just now starting the budget process. He said the state has changed the funding model this year and he hopes Lenoir City Schools will get additional money.

Ledbetter said he was on the board in 2004 when it voted to pay 50% of the cost for the coats.

“In years past, we’ve always supported the band, and, I mean, it’s important as any sport, any class,” Ledbetter said. “We’re very generous to them, and whatever we can do we will do.”

Ciara Davis, LCHS sophomore, went with Slimp to the meeting and modeled one of the uniforms for BOE members.

“I remember I had my bibs on and I went to go tie my shoe and, of course, they fit well up top but not so much leg-wise, and I bent down and they ripped,” Davis said. “They’re not really fitting to the female form, per say, but I mean, I know people who pop buttons just trying to move. It’s a lot of different things.”

Davis said she has found a way to work around problems but would love to march in new uniforms.

“I think we’d look very cool because we go to these competitions and we see all these schools and super modern and cool uniforms and we’re stuck in 30-year-old uniforms,” she said. “I think it would really boost band morale.”