The school district’s band program got a big boost Monday night with the gift of a semi-trailer to haul instruments to and from performances.
The Iola Rotary club purchased the used moving van for the band program.
Rotarian Bob Hawk presented a $5,000 check to Matt Kleopfer, band director, at Monday night’s USD 257 board of education meeting.
The stipend represents the $3,500 that went toward the purchase of the van and another $1,500 for the band program.
Hawk said the relationship between Rotary and the high school’s band program went back to 1936 when Rotary’s boys band program merged with the school’s to form The Marching Mustangs.
Hawk said Rotary raised the funds from a combination of its paper drive to recycle used newspapers and magazines and its Smokin’ Hot Car and Barbecue show.
“Iola has been very good to the Rotary club,” Hawk said of the support for its programs.
He also extended credit to Kleopfer.
“It’s not about the music, but about what he has been able to do with the students,” he said.
Iola school bands get boost
