'We're getting very close': Moms in booster club fundraising to save Hartland school's band program

HARTLAND, Wis. (CBS 58) — A group of moms in the Hartland area are working hard to keep their children's school band program alive for the second year in a row.

"I remember my daughter coming home so excited, she was one of the only kids that could make a noise with that trumpet mouthpiece," said Krista Haugner Sieg, a member of the Lake Country School Band Booster Club.

Her daughter, Lorelai, is a proud member of the band, and it's a part of her day that she's afraid to lose.

"She's been able to acquire a set of skills, and deliver and perform with her peers," Haugner Seig said.

The booster club says Lake Country's full-time band program is in jeopardy.

Financial shortfalls in the district's budget could cut band to part-time, losing benefits for the director.

"It's really important for us to keep that band program full-time with benefits, that way we can get the caliber of candidate we want for our kids," Haugner Sieg explained.

Last year, parents were able to raise enough money to keep it full-time for the 2024-2025 school year, after a referendum for the district failed.

"We knew after that, that we were going to need to make a booster club and probably continue the fundraising for future years," said Jennifer Ting, secretary of the Lake Country School Band Booster Club.

Now, she says they need to raise $65,000 again by April 1 to keep band full-time for the next school year, 2025-2026.

"Not only is this good for their social and emotional development, but it's also good for their brain development," Haugner Sieg said.

The booster club's website says more than 150 students are in Lake Country School's band program -- that's 60% of 4th through 8th graders.

As they get the word out, the booster club's online fundraiser is making progress.

"We're getting very close to our number this year, and we're very hopeful that we'll make it," Ting said.

The moms are thankful for the donors so far.

They hope the support continues, so all students have a chance to play for years to come.

"Not only are we looking at - can we save our band program this year, but are we able to support it moving forward," Haugner Sieg explained.

The Lake Country School District is asking for an $800,000 referendum per year for the next five years, to balance their operational budget.

If it fails on April 1, more cuts could come, and the band may need to raise even more money.

Click here to learn more about the referendum.