Contact the directors at Graford, Coupland, and Era. They are in the same boat as you, starting up music programs.

TMEA has mentor network. Phi Beta Mu has a mentor network. ATSSB is apparently starting one as well so be on the lookout for that.

Be sure to ask for an end of year repair budget as well as a budget for the year to pay for things that come up like contest entries. Don't let them tell you the band boosters (when you get that organization) should pay for daily needs. Remember that if you have middle school in a separate building from high school, you will need duplicate percussion and big instruments.
There are a lot of directors in Texas at the 1A-2A levels that are teaching by themselves from beginners through high school.
Also get audio equipment, tuner, met, etc.
Find that mentor and ask for help NOW!

Im happy to help! Shoot me an email and lets chat! While I havent started a program from zero, I have been in the small school world and been successful there.

ssimmons2374.2@gmail.com

I know it can be overwhelming. But remember, building a program is a very long term project. It takes about 8 - 10 years to build inventory, infrastructure, and culture. You're only one person, so don't expect things to magically start happening.

Keep an active list of things you need to do, and share a list with admin regularly about things that need to happen on their end...the quicker they know things now, the easier it might happen in the spring when they start talking budget.

Year one, teach the kids in the room. Everything else is fluff bonus stuff. If you get a performance or two in, excellent. But don't let the weight of program stuff distract you from the main goal, teaching kids music, and to love music.

Talk to your principal regularly, keep them up to date on what's going on.

And good luck!

If you are looking for a mentor, in what part of Texas are you located? TMEA has a mentor program

Dont forget tuba rack, chair and stand dolly. Instrument lockers or shelves. Office equipment? Think of all instruments not just primary. Cymbals, tambourines, little percussion items. Not just big. Concert and marching percussion. Contra alto clarinet to cover tuba lines. Sit down and start making a list.

I started a program at a 2a school about 20 years ago.

Here are the big things to consider without getting into all of the details..

1. The amount of money you get for your first instrument purchase will never happen again. Ask for everything you will possibly need. If they want a pep band, get a full set of marching instruments too. Make sure you get things like marimba, timpani, gong, and the other somewhat expensive percussion equipment.

Buy stuff that’s going to last you for the next 20 years. The vast majority of the equipment I bought that school is still there in use today and is still in great shape.

2. Don’t forget to ask for about $3000-5000 to buy a library. You don’t need 600 pieces at the beginning, but you need a solo and ensemble library and you need about 5 to 10 grade one and grade 2 pieces and some playable marches, holiday music, and some fun stuff to play for your spring concert.

3. Make sure they get you all of the furniture you need. They forgot to buy stands for me - they told me it was fully furnished and ready to go, and my first day there I asked where the music stands were.

4. Where is your class going to meet? If there isn’t an actual band Hall worthy of its name, where are you going to store your equipment?

5. They also won’t consider transportation of your equipment. It’s not enough to have music stands, you need racks for them as well. Same with chairs. Do not let them buy a single thing from public seating corporation, it’s universally awful.