FUNDED: CHSMPA Helps CHS Purchase New Truck for Cougar Marching Band
CHSMPA is pleased to announce that, along with the Columbia High School Administration, it has procured a new Truck for the Cougar Marching Band. CHSMPA combined forces (and funds) with CHS Principal Frank Sanchez, to make the purchase happen. The effort marks the resolution of a need that has been an issue for years.
Percussion and Front Ensemble members with the new truck.
The Gap. Columbia’s Marching Band, which is fielding 87 student members in its 2025 season, has a unique challenge. The band practices in two different spots (Ritzer Field and Underhill Field), and so it has to move its instruments (some of which are huge, heavy and valuable), field sets, and flags back and forth between Columbia and Underhill, almost daily. The band also has no field level storage at either facility. Additionally, the band competes against other bands all over New Jersey, packing up and moving its show and instruments everywhere it goes; it is not uncommon for a band of the Cougar Band’s size to have two, three or four support vehicles like the new truck. As the band has grown in both size and capability, taking on arrangements of increasing complexity and instrumentation, more and better equipment has been needed.
The Response. CHSMPA worked closely with the District Business Administrator’s office and even closer with Principal Sanchez to get this done. At its last executive board meeting of the year, the CHSMPA board voted to make a one-time grant to the district to go towards a purchase. CHSMPA parents researched options, searcehd and shopped nation-wide and found an affordable, high-quality option. They found a mechanic who generously donated his time to inspect the truck and green-light it as a good option for the band’s use.
At just the right time, Principal Sanchez was able to raise funds to go towards the truck and CHSMPA donated the gap amount. The stars aligned and Mr. Peter Bauer and a CHSMPA parent drove out to western NJ in June to get the new truck.
Acknowledgments. CHSMPA would like to thank Mr. Sanchez for his support in solving this need for the band, and for personally securing the funding for the high school’s share. CHSMPA would also like to thank Superintendent Bing and the Board of Education for allowing the use of funds for this purpose, and Mr. Imani Moody, the district’s Business Administrator, and his excellent team for their help. Lastly, CHSMPA would like to thank its members and donors for their help in making these kinds of purchased possible, and for keeping the music playing at Columbia.
Update, Fall 2025. The truck has now served a full season with the band and helped make its outstanding season a success. CHSMPA parent drivers have helped keep the band moving, and the truck has made a new level of competition possible for the band.
Main Photo courtesy Julia Maloof Venderosa.