Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Bond 2017: SBISD Begins Replacing Musical Instruments

August 22, 2018 11:00 AM

MHS band director and band president inspect new saxophone — *MHS Band Director Suzanne Thompson (left) and MHS Band President Elizabeth Lee inspect a new saxophone, one of the new musical instruments purchased with Bond 2017 funds.*

District voters won’t have to wait long to see Bond 2017 dollars in action – just attend an SBISD sporting event this fall, one that features a marching band.

A portion of the $3 million allocated approved for fine arts has already been used to purchase new musical instruments for marching and concert bands. Even when well-cared for, musical instruments will wear out through transport, outdoor use and near-constant use.

SBISD’s instruments are aging – for example, the Sousaphones at Stratford High School are all at least 30 years old and are in constant need of repair. As instruments age and become worn they are more often in need of repair and lose their instructional effectiveness.

MHS band students push cart of new instruments across campus — *MHS band students Ana Babar (left) and Josephine Lim maneuver a cart of new musical instruments towards the band room.*

On a weekday morning in late July, Memorial High School band director Suzanne Thompson supervises as a small group of band officers unpacks and inventories some new instruments.

“We’ll use (new) instruments inside for concert band,” Thompson said. “Then as the instruments age they’ll be used for marching band.”

Helping Thompson on this morning are Elizabeth Lee, MHS band president; Josephine Lim, drum major; and Ana Babar, trumpet section leader.

The students unpack the instruments from both their shipping containers and their protective cases, admiring the newness of each one before putting it back in its case for inventorying and a journey to the MHS band hall.

Instrument replacement will be ongoing throughout the 10-year Bond 2017 program. Marching band and drill team uniforms and auditorium curtains will also be replaced using Bond 2017 money.

Voters last November approved a 10-year $898.4 million bond program that will continue transformation of SBISD by rebuilding the nine oldest elementary schools and Landrum Middle school. Bond 2017 also addresses transportation, CTE and safety and security upgrades.