The Tamaqua Area Raiders Marching Band is closer to having new uniforms, as school board members looked at fabric options at Tuesday’s committee meetings.

Band Director Mark Beltz last month showed the board sample uniforms from one of three major manufacturers in the industry that he reached out to for quotes.

The band’s current uniforms are reaching the end of their useful life, as the district last purchased uniforms in 2014. Beltz said that the pants and hats are showing the most wear.

“We are at 12 years, going on 13,” he said of the current uniforms. “If you look at the last 50 years of band uniforms, they’re between 10 and 12 years is what they last.”

Beltz was looking at keeping the traditional navy blue design with the T that is currently on the band’s uniforms and was on the band’s uniforms in the 1930s.

The material was the issue, as most manufacturers have moved away from wool-blend uniforms in favor of all synthetic materials, which also cost less.

The district would look at outfitting 130 musicians plus an additional 45 uniforms to accommodate different, future sizing of members, Beltz had said.

The Dacron-wool uniforms come in around $140,000, whereas the synthetics, including a breathable one that is made from recycled plastic water bottles, cost about $117,000 to $120,000, he said.

Beltz secured material samples from the uniform companies, but only DeMoulin Brothers, the company that made the current uniforms, could provide a wool option.

The board had been leaning toward wool because of its durability and the quality of the fabric, as opposed to synthetics.

On Tuesday, the board members looked at fabric samples, and Superintendent Dr. Stephen Toth asked Beltz what his recommendation would be.

“I don’t mind the Dac-wool,” Beltz said. “I think the Dac-wool uniform looks really good. I’m fine with that. I tried to be as frugal as I possibly could to try to keep costs down, because I figured it was going to be $135,000-$140,000.”

Board President Larry Wittig wanted to know what would be the most comfortable for the band members, as they’re wearing them in both hot and cold conditions.

Beltz said that they do have more games in August now, and band members might be too warm; and then, on the other hand, they would need to put on layers underneath synthetic uniforms for the colder weather.

“I’m stuck no matter what I do,” Beltz said. “No matter what fabric I put them in, they’re going to be hot, they’re going to be cold. It’s just how it is.”

His recommendation was for the Dacron-wool uniforms from DeMoulin Brothers. Toth said they would try to get that on the board’s agenda for next week.

The turnaround time on band uniforms is approximately 200 to 210 days, which means the district would have them in time for the next school year.