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Music chairs tell committee 30-year instrument backlog pushes music costs above $100,000
Summary
Manitowoc district music leaders told the Curriculum & Instruction Committee they completed an instrument inventory and found pianos, lockers and other equipment have exceeded expected lifespans, creating a multi-item replacement plan that together pushes music costs over the $100,000 policy threshold.
Music department leaders told the Curriculum & Instruction Committee they completed a full instrument inventory tied to upcoming building moves and identified widespread equipment needs that together exceed the district’s $100,000 policy threshold.
"We haven't invested in some pianos in about 30 years," said Rebecca Ninheis, identified in the meeting as the music department chair who covers elementary through high school, summarizing the group’s review of instruments, lockers and curricular resources. Staff said the music total exceeds $100,000 because it aggregates many items—pianos, lockers, instrument replacements and consumables such as student workbooks and method books—some of which have only a single vendor option.
Committee members heard that the department has developed a multi-year replacement spreadsheet categorizing instruments as good, medium or poor and would budget an annual allotment (an example figure cited was up to $10,000 per year for routine replacements) to avoid large one-time requests. Staff said the department will return in April with a full recommendation and a projection for how annual recurring costs will compare with last year’s spending.
No formal vote was taken on music purchases at this meeting; staff and department chairs will present detailed proposals and vendor information at the April committee meeting.
