Just got off the phone with the director for the school. She explains that the fees cover the cost of the judges, hired piano players, as well as some help to cover costs or the hosting school.

The piano players are hired for the entire day (8 hours) and will play 18-20 solos each. Each solo is paid at a rate of $20.00. So the day is close to $360-400 dollars for the day. They also include an additional meeting with the kids for rehearsals.

So, my tab comes to $23.68...which isn't the point. There's been no fundraisers in band this year...and it occurs to me that most of our Junior high & High school music teachers should be able to play the charts for a bunch of 7th & 8th graders.

This seems to be the easy way out-just pass the cost off to the parents. We alreayd pay almost $100.00 per kid (we have 3) annually for "school fees". Plus, every local school levy that has ever been on the ballot has been passed with massive local support.

Its a case study (albeit, a small town one) in mismanagement, IMO...

Bill in dayton