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?

2024-2025 School Year

New Band Students: $900*

Returning Band Students: $800*

New Color Guard Students: $800* + New Uniform & Gear Fee ($475, includes Uniform, Shoes, Gloves, Flag Bag)

Returning Color Guard Students: $800* + Returning Uniform Fee ($57, additional items extra)

**Siblings: $600* New Band, $500* Returning Band/All Guard (plus any applicable Guard uniform fees)

*Each student has the option to request a CutTime credit upon completion of 2 full GO Flags volunteers shifts.  The credit can be applied towards a discount against their Fairshare fees.  More information about this credit can be found here.

*Families with multiple band/color guard members pay full fees for the first student, and the reduced "sibling" fee for each additional student. This discount is extended as a courtesy to assist families with multiple children (living in the same home and under the financial responsibility of the same parents for ALL band/guard fees) with the cost of having multiple kids in band/guard.  The CutTime credit described above will be assessed for each student who will be responsible for two independent shifts each.

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 by 5/31/2024.  This Down Payment will cover the cost of uniform overlays for all Band students, performance uniforms for Color Guard, the New Student Gear Bundle (shoes, "blues" and gloves).  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.  Guard Uniform packages and individual items can be ordered here.

MANDATORY: As mentioned above, all students will be required to pay a minimum Fairshare down payment by 5/31/2024 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 and practice gear.  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 31st 2024

• • $250 First Year Band Members

  • $150 Returning Band Members

  • $150 First Year Color Guard Members (not including gear fees of TBD)

  • $150 Returning Color Guard Members (not including gear fees of TBD)

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

• $325  All Band/Color Guard Members

• $175 All Band/Color Guard Sibling Members

September 1st

• $325  All Band/Color Guard Members

• $175 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.

• PLEASE NOTE the following limitations to Zelle 

  • Zelle does not allow you to pay small businesses with accounts linked to a debit card alone

  • Those with Zelle via USAA cannot add us as a recipient, USAA currently does not have an explanation for this problem.

3. Via QuickBooks Payment links below.

4.   Please note that the GUARD payments do not include the cost of the gear bundles, those will be made available for purchase via our Webstore, HERE.

5. If your student has a different last name than what is listed on your credit card and/or a common last name, please email cotreasurer@grandoaksband.org with your name and student name to ensure their account gets credited.

Pay Fairshare Via QuickBooks

Please note that QB processing fees of roughly 3% per transaction (rounded up) will be added to all QB processed payments.

For Families with >1 Band/Guard Student

What if I am unable to afford my Fairshare 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.

Extended payment plan enrollment can be requested via LINK COMING SOON, you must enroll by July 2024 to be included in this offering.

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 banking service charges or costs associated with gear orders

• Withdrawal prior to the first week of school, 75% of fees, minus any banking 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.