The Latest on Gillett High School Band Uniform Fundraising

The mission to purchase band uniforms for Gillett High School has hit a temporary road block.  A couple of weeks ago, the fundraising committee learned that Gillett Band Teacher Jake Kulba will be leaving after this school year for a position in another district. This news sparked a fair amount of speculation when it was revealed on Gillett Business Association’s Facebook page early last week (which you can see below).

A common concern shared in the comment thread was the reason for suspending the fundraiser-especially since the band will still need the uniforms. As one of the members of this fundraising committee, I would like to state for the record that the decision to suspend the fundraiser was a mutual decision by both the Band Department and the Gillett Business Association (GBA).

In the comment thread, some had suggested continuing the fundraising without the director. Even if the suspension wasn’t agreed upon, to do this would have been a mistake. A committee is a team, and teams don’t function to their full potential if positions aren’t filled.

• If you think about other organizations that have held fundraisers, it is common to see members of the club-like the scout troops, high school clubs, even church groups-participating in the fundraiser. This drive with the Band should be no exception.  
• The Gillett Business Association needed a line of communication with the school’s staff and students, which Jake Kulba provided. Kulba also provided a line of contact with the band parents, and gave the GBA an idea of what was needed.  When the Gillett School District’s new director is hired and established, we will approach the new director about what vision he/she has for the Gillett High School Band and continue from there.

At this time, there is about $4,600 in an account at Peshtigo National Bank, and this account is specifically designated for Band Uniforms and nothing else. The school does not have access to this money right now either, so the task will not fall to the wayside because of Jake Kulba’s departure.  In some of the comments, some people made it sound like the Gillett Business Association dangled a carrot in front of the band and yanked it away, and it is not like that at all. The existence of this account and the way it is set up should be proof that we are not backing out on any plans we have made.  

If anyone has any suggestions about how to handle the fundraising and/or would like to get involved, I would love to hear from you! You can either email me at gillett.handiworks@yahoo.com or call/text me at (920) 618-1131.

Even though none of my children have been taught by Mr. Kulba, I know many of the kids that have. Their disappointment tells me that Jake Kulba’s exit is a huge loss for Gillett.  I pray that he and his family will be as well-received at his new school as he was here.

Thank you, Mr. Kulba for all you have done here in Gillett! The community would like to wish you and your family the very best!