1. Freedom MS Application - July 13, 2026 - DCSD Board Meeting Archive

MHOF Instrument Grant Application 11/22/2024

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Thank you for your interest in applying for a donation of musical
instruments from Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. Please note that the
Foundation only donates student model instruments and the brand
provided is at the discretion of the Foundation. Typical Mr. Holland's Opus
Foundation grants range from $5k - $25k in total retail value per school.
Please read the following information before starting the application: - You
are able to save a draft of your application prior to submitting if you would
like to complete it at a later time. To access your draft, please follow the
instructions here. - If your school has more than one music teacher, we
ask that all music teachers work together on this application and
collaborate on requested instrument needs. There will be a section within
the application to include additional teacher contact information. - It is
recommend that you use Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari on a desktop
computer to complete the form. It is not recommended to use Internet
Explorer as it is not a supported browser. We also do not recommend
completing the device on a mobile phone as sections of the application
require filling out tables and downloading forms. - Finally, please be sure
to safelist notification emails from Submittable and regularly check the
email you used to sign up. The grant application should take at minimum
20 minutes to complete. We kindly ask that you complete the application
by the date we previously emailed to you. After completing the application,
the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation will contact you by email in the coming
weeks with an update. After completing the application, the page will
refresh with your responses and you will receive an email confirming
completion of the form. If you would like to download and print it for your
records, please follow the instructions here or you can access the
completed form from your Submittable profile. If you experience any
technical issues on the form, please contact Submittable Customer
Support here. For any other questions, please reach out to
applications@mhopus.org or (818)762-4328. On behalf of the Mr.
Holland's Opus Foundation, thank you for your dedication to music
education!

Step 1 - School Information

Please list the 58-1843454
school's federal tax
EIN:

Is this school part of Yes
a district feeder (do
students enrolled at
your school come
from or go to specific
schools in your
district)?
Please list the the Allgood Elementary School
name of the Dunaire Elementary School
school(s) that feed Indian Creek Elementarty School
into or out of the Jolly Elementary School
school you are Clarkston High School
applying for.

Step 2 - Contact Information

Are there additional Yes
music teachers at
the school?

Please list the following information for the additional music teachers at the applying school:
Grant App - Additional Teachers.xlsx

Principal Information Please complete the following contact information for
the school's principal:

Prefix: Dr.

First Name Sabrina

Last Name McCombs

Email sabrina_mccombs@dekalbschoolsga.org

Superintendent Information Please complete the following contact
information for the district's superintendent:

Prefix Dr.

First Name Devon

Last Name Horton

Email devon_horton@dekalbschoolsga.org

Does your district Yes
have an arts
coordinator or
someone whose
responsibilities
include
overseeing/leading
the district's visual
and performing arts
programs?
District Arts Coordinator Please list the following contact information for
the district's arts coordinator:

Prefix Ms.

First Name Monica

Last Name Fogg

Title Music Supervisor

Email monica_fogg@dekalbschoolsga.org

Phone Number 678-875-3602

Step 3 - Student Fees and Subsidies

Are music students Yes
asked to donate or
pay a fee of any kind
to assist with
musical expenses
(i.e. instrument
rental, materials,
uniform,
transportation, etc.)?

Is this fee required Voluntary
or voluntary?

Please explain the There is a $25 maintainece/rental fee. It is voluntary since some students
fee further including have to share instruments.
what type of
expense the fee
pays for and the
typical amount
requested.

Do any of your Yes
students require
assistance with the
suggested fee?

Please provide Students use fund raiserd to assist them with the $25 naitainence/rental
details as to how fee.
assistance is
provided.

Step 4 - Music Program Statistics
What grade level(s) 6
does the school 7
serve? 8

What is the school's 1300
total student
population?

Classes Offered Worksheet Download Please download and fill out this
worksheet regarding the music types offered at the school. After
completing, please upload using the file upload button below.

Please upload the completed worksheet ↓
MHOF_-_Classes_Offered_Worksheet_Freedom_MS.xlsx

To the best of your No
knowledge, was
every student that
wanted to participate
in the music program
during the most
recent school year
able to do so?

Please explain why Every student who wanted to participate wasn't able due to scheduling
students were unable challenges.
to participate:

Step 5 - Program Budget Please download and fill out this worksheet for
the current or last school year income and expense figures for the
applying music program(s) only. Please EXCLUDE teacher salaries. After
completing, please upload using the file upload button below.

Please upload the completed worksheet ↓
MHOF_Income-Expenses_Table_Freedom_MS.xlsx

If applicable, please
describe Other
Income and Other
Expenses listed on
the worksheet.
In the last two No
academic years, has
the program been the
recipient of any one-
time grants or
donations above and
beyond the stated
budget?

Step 6 - School Instruments

Does the school Yes
have an inventory
list?

Please upload your inventory below. We ask that you exclude any student identification
information and if possible, please list each instrument's condition.
Freedom_Middle_School_Band_Inventory_May_2023.xlsx

How many 24
instruments were lost
or stolen from
inventory during the
last three academic
years?

Please describe 3 trumpets were lost, 2 are damaged and are beyond repair; 2 alto
losses (if applicable): saxophones are beyond repair; 2 tenor saxophones are beyond repair; 2
oboes and 1 bassoon are aged and beyond repair; 3 snare drums are
damaged and beyond repair; 3 tubas are damaged, aged, and beyond
repair; 6 euphoniums are damaged, aged, and beyond repair.

Are students sharing Yes
instruments?

Are students sharing Sharing throughout the school day
within the same
class (taking turns)
or throughout the
school day (different
classes)?

Please list why Students share trumpets, euphoniums, tubas, and percussion instruments
students are having because the insruments are aged and beyond repair.
to share, the number
of instruments being
shared and
approximately how
many students share
each instrument.
Are students sharing Yes
mouthpieces?

How many students 14
are sharing
mouthpieces?

Step 7 - Instruments Needed Complete the table below for the instruments
your school is requesting. Please note that full or partial requests may be
granted and therefore it is important that instruments be listed in priority
order. Instruments of highest priority should be listed first. Please note
that the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation only supplies student models and
the brand provided is at the discretion of the Foundation. Typical Mr.
Holland's Opus Foundation grants range from $5k - $25k in total retail
value per school. For additional tips, please visit our guide Putting
Together Your Instrument Request. Please reference the key below for
instrument request reason: A) To replace an instrument in the existing
inventory that is beyond repair. B) To reduce student sharing of this
instrument. C) To eliminate student sharing of this instrument. D) To allow
more students to participate in the program. E) To provide an instrument
for at home practice only. F) To eliminate borrowing this instrument from
another school. G) Other

Instrument Request
FINAL-Requested Instruments.xlsx

List any additional Mouthpieces, reeds, valve oil, slide grease, key oil, cork grease, various
accessories (such drum sticks/mallets, and glockenspiel/zylophone mallets.
as mouthpieces,
cases, reeds,
maintenance
supplies, bows, etc.)
needed for your
program, if
applicable.

If instruments are There are several instrument repair companies in the Metro Atlanta area.
granted, how do you Our school district gives us an annual $3,000 repair budget.
plan to maintain their
condition?

Describe your Freeedom Middle School band has several lockers and storage areas in
classroom (or music the band room.
space) and
instrument storage
set up.
What challenges We do have some new instruments/equipment that came from SPLOST in
prohibit the 2022. But SPLOST funds can be extremely limited because the District is
district/school to so large.
purchase the
requested
instruments?

Step 8 - Supporting Materials We’d love to learn more about your music
program! Providing supporting materials helps introduce your students and
teachers and brings your program to life. While we require these materials
as part of your submission, please know that content and quality will not
affect our decision on your application. We highly encourage you to share
in your own words, refraining from AI-generated responses. Thank you for
sharing your music program with us!

Please share fun and/or candid photos that showcase music student's personalities and the
music program.
Freedom_Middle_School_Rams_Band_-_6th_Grade.jpg
Freedom_Middle_School_Rams_Band_-_8th_Grade.jpg
Freedom_Middle_School_Rams_Band_-_LGPE.jpg
Freedom_Middle_School_Rams_Band.jpg

Optional: We Video content should be one of the following: Teachers talking about the
encourage you to need in their school Teachers showing the state of instruments and talking
create a short video about the need Students talking about what being a part of a music
that can be shared program means to them
on the Mr. Holland's
Opus Foundation's
socials. Please note
the video needs to
be filmed vertically
and preferably be at
least 60 seconds,
but no more than a
minute and a half.

Please upload the
video here or should
you prefer to share a
link to the video via
Google Drive, please
paste it below
instead.

Google Drive Link: https://youtu.be/tAs6vgsmS4c

Step 9 - Terms and Conditions Please read and checkmark the following
before submitting your application.
I attest that all of the checked
information provided
in our application to
the Mr. Holland’s
Opus Foundation is
accurate and up-to-
date.

I agree that if funded, checked
we will comply with
all requirements for
use of the
instruments and for
crediting the
Foundation.

I also agree that if checked
funded, we will allow
the Mr. Holland’s
Opus Foundation to
send a
representative to
assess instrument
use and inspect their
condition if
requested.

It is understood that checked
if funded, donated
instruments are to be
used by students
from low income
families.

I certify that, to the checked
best of my
knowledge,
parents/guardians
have provided any
and all
permissions/releases
required to be
photographed and
attest that I and/or
the school or district
have all appropriate
documentation on
file.

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