Athens High School’s marching band is set to wear new uniforms and play new instruments next football season. The Athens City Schools Board of Education approved the purchase at its monthly meeting Thursday night.

Band directors have previously discussed with the board plans to replace the 17-year-old uniforms marchers currently wear, but Thursday was slated as the final decision on the matter. Director Ryan Nix told the board during its work session his department has been cutting spending while lowering costs to the students in order to shore up more cash in the band’s uniform fund.

The band’s instructional staff was reduced and school system staff volunteered to help with the color guard, Nix said. Charter buses were cut in favor of using system buses to travel to competitions. Directors also started what they hope will be an annual marching competition at Athens as a fundraiser for the program. The show held in 2015 raised roughly $14,000 toward new uniforms and instruments.

Samples of the new uniforms were displayed at Thursday’s meeting. Once approved, Nix said the manufacturer promised delivery of all uniforms by mid-August if the order was turned in by March 15.

The board unanimously approved Superintendent Trey Holladay’s recommendation to pay for 50 percent of the total uniform cost and 60 percent of the total cost for new instruments. This equals up to $27,500 for new uniforms and up to $30,000 for the instruments.