Fairshare

What is the Fairshare payment?

The Band/Color Guard Directors and the Booster Club determine a membership fee (a “Fairshare”) for each student, each year. This fee is typical of all Band/Color Guard programs across the state and fine arts/student groups at Grand Oaks High School.  The Directors and Boosters work hard to keep this fee lower than most Fairshare fees in the school and district.  All students are asked to pay their Fairshare in full by September 1st via the fee schedule below or a pre-approved payment plan.

Fairshare payments cover activities and efforts that benefit and support the education of ALL Band and Color Guard students, including, but not limited to:

• Marching show design costs

• Music purchasing, arrangement and licensing costs

• Payroll for some of our directors, support staff and technicians

• Extra transportation, uniform and equipment costs

• Masterclass and guest clinicians and teachers throughout the year

• A portion of both UIL and in school competition costs (music, judges, awards)

How much is the Fairshare?

2023-2024 School Year

COMING SOON

2022-2023 School Year

New Band Students: $850

Returning Band Students: $750

New Color Guard Students: $750 + New Uniform Fee of $400

Returning Color Guard Students: $750 + Returning Uniform Fee of $213

*Siblings: $550 New Band, $450 Returning  Band & Color Guard (+ any applicable Guard Uniform fees listed above)

*Families with multiple band/color guard members pay full fees for the first student, and the reduced "sibling" fee for each additional student.

Payments can be made IN FULL or via the schedule below.  All students, new or returning in Band or Color Guard,  will be required to make a minimum Down Payment on the last day of May Marching Camp (5/26/2023).  This Down Payment will cover the cost of uniform overlays for all Band students, performance uniforms for Color Guard and the New Student Gear Bundle (shoes, "blues" and gloves) for first year Band students.  New and returning Color Guard students' Down Payment will be higher due to their specific travel uniform and gear needs and and will be collected by the Color Guard Director during the May Marching Camp.

MANDATORY: As mentioned above, all students will be required to pay a minimum Fairshare down payment by the last day of May Band Camp in order to secure their overlay/competition uniform, their Color Guard performance uniform and/or their New Student Gear Bundles.  Students who do not make this payment on time risk forfeiting their spot on the marching field as they will not have the full required uniform.  All students must make this payment regardless of Fairshare waivers received in past years.

When do I make my payments?

Payment will be due on the following dates:

May Marching Camp for ALL Students (5/26/23)

• • $200 First Year Band Members

  • $100 Returning Band Members

  • TBD First Year Color Guard Members

  • TBD Returning Color Guard Members

First Day of July Marching Camp for all Band Members (7/24/23)

• TBD  All Band/Color Guard Members

• TBD  All Band/Color Guard Sibling Members

September 1st

• TBD  All Band/Color Guard Members

• TBD All Band/Color Guard Sibling Members

How do I make my payments?

Payments can be made in one of 4 ways:

1. Via Check payable to GOHSBBA, including your child's name on the memo line and placed in the safe in the Band Hall

2. Via Zelle payable to finance@grandoaksband.org, including your child's name in the memo line.

3. Via the Finances tab in your child's CHARMS account, incurs a 2.6% PayPal processing fee, see the instructions re: how to make a Miscellaneous Ledger Payment on the CHARMS page.

4. IN FULL by May 26th via the PayPal buttons below (which allows for the use of PayPal Credit's 6 month no interest financing, also incurs a PayPal processing fee, included in the prices listed below); if you have more than one Student in the program, you will have to click the button and pay for each separately.   Please note that the GUARD buttons do not include the cost of the gear bundles, those will be paid to Mr. Brown directly.

PAYPAL Buttons Coming Soon

What if I am unable to afford this fee?

The directors and Boosters do not want any child to forego a musical education because their parents cannot afford their Fairshare fee.  If the payment schedule listed above does not fit your family's needs, please reach out to the GOHSBBA Treasurer at finance@grandoaksband.org to discuss other payment and/or waiver options.  Uniform related fees and the down payment fee assessed in May are not eligible for special payment arrangements.

What if I pay the fee and my child withdraws from Band/Color Guard?

Per our published GOHSBBA Policies and Procedures guidelines, students who withdraw from the Band/Color Guard program are entitled to refunds of their Fairshare fee as follows:

• Withdrawal prior to August, 90% of fees paid, minus any PayPal service charges or costs associated with gear orders

• Withdrawal prior to the first week of school, 75% of fees, minus any PayPal service charges or costs associated with gear orders

• Withdrawal after school starts, no refunds allowed

We cannot refund students for any pre-purchased or pre-ordered gear or uniforms, but can assist families in finding someone to sell or donate these items to, if so desired.

What happens if I don't pay my child's/children's fee(s)?

Your family will not be considered a member of the GOHS Band Booster Association and will not be able to participate in by invitation-only Booster funded events or having Booster association voting privileges.

Who do I contact with questions about Fairshare fees or other financial obligations of Band/Color Guard?

Contact the GOHSBBA Treasurer at finance@grandoaksband.org or reach out to your Student's Band/Guard Director.