Agenda Item
ii. Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation Award Valued at $40,338)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Cherisse Campbell, Chief of Community Engagement and Innovative Partnerships, Division of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education accept the receipt of the instrument award funded by Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation.
Why: Board approval is requested because this award expands equitable access to music education by providing instruments some families could not otherwise afford, reduces student sharing, and strengthens Freedom Middle School’s band program with accountable, school-based resources.
Details: Freedom Middle School will receive a Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation award of band instruments and accessories, including trumpets, clarinets, flutes, saxophones, snare drums, stands, and reeds, to support student participation in music education.
Financial impact: There is no cost to the District or Freedom Middle School to accept the instrument award from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. The total donation is valued at $40,338.
Contact: Dr. Cherisse M. Campbell, Chief of Community Engagement & Innovative Partnerships, Division of Community Engagement and Innovative Partnerships, 678-676-0409, cherisse_m_campbell@dekalbschoolsga.org
Dr. Bridgette, L. Allen, Area Superintendent of Middle Schools, Division of Schools & Leadership, 404-915-7104, bridgette_allen@dekalbschoolsga.org
Effective: Upon Board Approval.
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs.
GRANT ACCEPTANCE AGREEMENT
Thoroughly review this agreement, then sign and return no later than May 27, 2026. Failure to do so may result in the
cancellation of this award.
It is agreed that the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation’s (“MHOF” or “Foundation”) award of musical instruments,
equipment, and related accessories outlined on Attachment A and their acceptance by Freedom Middle School of the
DeKalb County School District in Stone Mountain, Georgia (“Grantee”) is subject to the following terms and
conditions:
1. The award is made in support of music education at Freedom Middle School and not to any one or more teachers
employed at Freedom Middle School. Transfer or loan of the donated instruments to a different school, including
a different school in the DeKalb County School District is expressly prohibited, even in the case of music teacher
turnover.
2. The grantee must complete a Receipt of Donated Instruments form when donated instruments arrive and have
been inspected (to be completed by the music teacher, this form will be emailed to them).
3. If lending donated instruments to students for at-home learning / practice, teachers will execute a loan contract
with guardians and implement regular inspection / accountability measures to ensure the instruments will be
properly handled, stored, maintained and protected from damage or loss.
4. Teachers will thoroughly inspect all donated instruments upon receipt and notify the Foundation within 15
business days of the delivery if any instruments are damaged or defective. Teachers should retain any packaging
materials for damaged instruments.
5. Include the donated instruments (makes, models and serial numbers) on the school/district’s master inventory list
for tracking and accountability purposes. It is highly recommended that the instrument inventory numbers
assigned to the donated instruments include the letters “MHOF” for easy identification should an inventory check
be conducted in the future.
6. Store instruments in a safe and secure designated area and undertake normal maintenance of the instruments to
keep them in good repair.
7. Notify the Foundation in the future if the music teacher signing this agreement is no longer teaching at this school
and provide the name, phone and email of the replacement teacher.
8. Notify the Foundation if the awarded music program is discontinued, or if donated instruments are not being used,
and return all instruments to the Foundation within 60 days, at the school and/or school district’s expense.
9. Provide photographs and/or videos of students and/or teachers with the donated instruments, and quotes or letters
from the teacher, principal, or students, verifying that permission has been granted by the participants for their use
by the Foundation and any other stated benefactor.
10. Credit Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and any other stated benefactor in any promotion of this grant, including
press releases, printed programs, interviews, social media, etc.
2550 N. Hollywood Way, #302, Burbank, CA 91505 | (818) 762-4328 | info@mhopus.org | mhopus.org Rev. 09/24
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation | Grant Acceptance Agreement Page 2
11. The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation reserves the right to rescind this grant if Freedom Middle School or DeKalb
County School District fails to fulfill its obligations as provided herein. If the grant is rescinded, all of the
instruments must be promptly returned to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. All return shipping expenses shall
be paid by Freedom Middle School or DeKalb County School District.
By their signatures below, Principal Sabrina McCombs and Music Teacher Dr. Forrest Watkins of Freedom Middle School
(i) acknowledge that they have read and understand this Grant Acceptance Agreement and (ii) agree to all terms as
provided in this Grant Acceptance Agreement.
By their signature below, Superintendent Dr. Norman C. Sauce III, or by/through their delegated signature authority, of
DeKalb County School District, (i) acknowledges that they have read and understand this Grant Acceptance Agreement
and (ii) agrees to all terms as provided in this Grant Acceptance Agreement.
For the grantee:
Print Name _________________________________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date: ________________
Principal, Freedom Middle School
Print Name _________________________________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date: ________________
Music Teacher, Freedom Middle School
Print Name _________________________________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date: ________________
Superintendent, DeKalb County School District
For the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation:
Print Name _________________________________________________
Signature _________________________________________________ Date: ________________
Program Director, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
2550 N. Hollywood Way, #302, Burbank, CA 91505 | (818) 762-4328 | info@mhopus.org | mhopus.org Rev. 09/24
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation | Grant Acceptance Agreement Page 3
ATTACHMENT A:
LIST OF DONATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT, AND RELATED ACCESSORIES
The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation awards the following musical instruments, equipment, and/or accessories to
the aforementioned school listed on page one of this grant acceptance agreement.
Quantity Make/Model Type Retail Each
6 Eastman/ETR420 Trumpet $1,759.00
6 Backun/BCLBALPHA-NK Clarinet $1,365.00
5 Eastman/EFL210 Flute $1,325.00
4 Eastman/EAS251 Alto Saxophone $2,533.00
3 Yamaha/KSD-255 Snare Drum (Steel) $280.00
3 Yamaha/SS-665 Snare Drum Stand $174.00
1 Eastman/ETS281 Tenor Saxophone $2,963.00
3 Vandoren/CR1025 Bb Clarinet Reeds, Box of 10 - Strength 2.5 $58.00
3 Vandoren/SR2125 Alto Saxophone Reeds, Box of 10 - Strength 2.5 $76.00
2 Vandoren/SR2225 Tenor Saxophone Reeds, Box of 5 - Strength 2.5 $54.75
2550 N. Hollywood Way, #302, Burbank, CA 91505 | (818) 762-4328 | info@mhopus.org | mhopus.org Rev. 09/24