Is City, School Scottish Pipe Band Leader Paid Fairly?

Pipe major Iain Donaldson puts in up to 60 hours a week directing Dunedin's city and school pipe and drum bands.

And yet, despite leading them to new heights of success, as exemplified by Disney's invitation for Dunedin High's Scottish Highlanders to march in Princess Merida's coronation parade in May, an honor bestowed on no other band in the county, he only takes home $15,000 a year for his work.

His wages come in part from the City of Dunedin, high school booster fundraisers, and the Scottish and Celtic groups' fundraising efforts. 

Steve Beaty, a Dunedin High booster president, is trying to convince both city and county school officials to pitch in and make it a much more stable, full-time, $45,000-a-year position with benefits.

"If there's one thing that anchors these schools in this city ... it's the Scottish tradition," Beaty told city commissioners during a budget workshop July 15. "You remove that from these schools and it's not successful."

Donaldson, who directs the City of Dunedin Pipe Band, took over for longtime director Sandy Keith, passed away in February 2012. Keith, who received full-time pay, is credited with expanding the pipe program into the high school and middle schools during his more than 30-year tenure.

The middle and high school piping programs have 500 kids, Beaty said. And Beaty it is now also reaching the elementary and private schools, where 300 students are enrolled in the program in the coming year. 

City Manager Rob DiSpirito said he spoke to Schools Superintendent Michael Grego about the possibility of partnering to create a more stable position for the high school band students.

"He seemed interested," but less inclined to create a school position, and more inclined to contribute toward a city position, meaning Dunedin would have to carve out a benefits package.

"But that was an initial impression," from a conversation two months ago, DiSpirito said.

City leaders agreed July 15 it was time to discuss and explore with Pinellas County Schools again how to go about solving the stability issue.

DiSpirito said he would bring more information back to the commission.