The Butler Area School District is expected to vote on a proposal that would dispose of some district-owned instruments while making repairs to others.
Butler school board members discussed a proposal during a meeting on Monday from Progressive Music Company. The proposal was made after an inspection of close to 1,000 instruments that are currently being stored at the Butler Middle School.
School officials say these were from a time when the district offered instruments during the first 12 weeks of students beginning a music program in 4th grade. The district now begins their instrumental program in 5th grade and students and families are responsible for covering the cost of renting or purchasing an instrument.
The conclusion of the inspection revealed that the majority of the instruments are past their usable lifespan and only suitable for parts. In exchange for being able to take those worn out instruments, Progressive is offering the repair of 27 instruments in the best condition with a one-year parts and labor guarantee and a $2,000 store credit. This would be a value of over $17,000 to the district at no cost.
The district would then rent those refurbished instruments out on a tiered system based on student financial need. The money raised through the rental program would then go toward the upkeep and repair of those instruments.
According to district administrators and faculty, this is likely the best deal the district will receive for these instruments, which have been used extensively and have mostly just been sitting at the middle school for years.
The Butler School Board will vote on this proposal at their meeting next week.
Written By: Ryan Saeler for the Butler Radio Network
