Jim Thorpe’s school board approved the purchase of brand-new uniforms for the Marching Olympians at Monday’s meeting.

Trombone player Luca Gajovich-Protich, 13, and drummer Robert Renode IV, 15, came to the meeting decked out in the new ensembles.Band director Eric Flowers said that the striking red, white and blue patterned uniforms were custom-designed for the school with a representative from the distributor.“I like the new uniforms, they’re more sharp-looking, and you can move around more. In my old uniform, I could barely move around with my shoulders,” Gajovich-Protich said.Renode IV agreed, enjoying the extra mobility that is integral to drumming.“They feel open. I can move more compared to the old uniforms. And, they look really nice,” Renode IV said.Band Boosters had submitted the request for new uniforms earlier on in the school year, as the current set is over a decade old.The total expenditure for 75 uniforms of varying sizes, including coats, pants, hats, plumes, rainwear and shoes, is $50,175.Business manager Lauren Kovac said that the funding for the uniforms will either be moved from other accounts or taken directly from the general fund.Band Booster and fundraising co-chair Jaz Gajovich-Protich said that the total expense, spread out over the 10 year-plus life-span of the uniforms, came out to under $60 per band member.“We needed to update them, something more modern, more sharp, more chic, to represent the school,” Gajovich-Protich said. “It’s something that will not go out of style for easily another 10 years.”Initially, the boosters were ready to pay the expense themselves through fundraising efforts.Board member Glenn Confer, however, championed the school board’s purchase, insisting that the band deserved the same funding that would go toward uniforms for any sports team.“They’re part of the school district. Why wouldn’t we buy uniforms for them?” Confer said. “I think they’re very nice, very sharp with the red, white and blue.”Flowers was thrilled with the board’s decision, and had already jumped to email the uniform representative to confirm the approval.“So, hopefully we’ll get moving on them, and we’ll have them for the trip in April when the band goes to Norfolk, Virginia, for a parade-band competition,” Flowers said.Extended mobility, chic style and proper sizing are fantastic, but as the boosters see it, what really matters is how it makes the musicians feel.“I think it gives them a sense of pride,” Gajovich-Protich said.“When you look good, you feel good, you play better.”Appointments• Ashley Andrews was approved for the position of elementary education teacher, with a salary of $45,100.• Melissa Fox was approved for the position of long-term substitute gifted teacher, with a salary of $44,100.• Jennifer Strauss was approved for the position of administrative assistant, with a pay rate of $15.10 per hour.• Nicole Selert, Geralyn Hartman and Siobhan Kleintop were approved for paraprofessional positions, each with a pay rate of $11 per hour.• Paraprofessional Judith Sibbach was approved for retirement, effective at the end of the 2016-2017 school year.