Pierce Co. school district spent $750K on drone program. The first show was a hit
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- Peninsula School District launched the nation’s second student-led drone show team.
- The district invested $750,000 from a 2023 levy to fund drones, training and software.
- Students gain FAA certification, hands-on skills and paid job experience.
The stars appeared as the field lights went out.
Dozens of families waited on Gig Harbor High School’s turf field as lights ascended into the dark sky. As the lights formed the shape of a pair of scissors cutting a ribbon of dots, murmurs and applause rose from the crowd.
“We’re so proud of the kids,” Peninsula School District Superintendent Krestin Bahr told The News Tribune after the show. “This is a dream come true.”
The Peninsula School District’s drone performance team held its first show on Sept. 18, a culmination of months of work to launch the nation’s second student-led drone performance team.
Zachary Schley, a senior at Gig Harbor High School and the team’s contact manager, apologized for being a little out of breath after the performance because of what he described as amazement and shock.
“To be honest, I’m still flabbergasted,” he said. “We’ve been working on this for so long now. It’s like a dream come true. It’s finally happening.”
Bahr approached the district’s coordinator for innovation and technology Mel Benner with the idea of starting a drone performance team after attending a conference, said district spokesperson Danielle Chastaine. That conference was hosted by St. Vrain Valley Schools in Colorado, the home of “the world’s first high school student-led outdoor drone show team.”
“And our leadership was blown away by what those students were doing,” Chastaine said. “And said, ‘Well, why not us? Why not us?’”
St. Vrain Valley Schools is providing mentorship to Peninsula as they develop their program, according to Chastaine.
The district funded the program through its Safety, Security, and Technology Levy, which voters passed in 2023, Chastaine later wrote in an email. The levy brought in just under $7 million in revenue for the district to invest in areas including security systems for school buildings, emergency communications, technology upgrades and devices for students and staff, The News Tribune reported.
So far, the district has spent approximately $750,000 on the program, covering “the purchase of 330 Firefly Gen2 drones, specialized equipment, software licenses, and other startup materials needed to launch this innovative program,” Chastaine wrote.
“What makes this investment particularly sustainable is that we’ve designed the program to become self-funding through paid performances for community organizations and businesses,” she continued. “All future earnings will be reinvested back into supporting the drone team. Our goal is full sustainability by the 2026-2027 academic year.”
The drone performance team currently has seven students, paid interns who accepted the position after a job application and interview process. Chastaine told The News Tribune at the show that these interns are paid as Peninsula School District employees from the district’s general budget.
The plan is to launch ASB-funded clubs at the high school level this fall or winter for students to get involved with the program, and add middle school clubs the following year, Chastaine said.
The district began offering a drone pilot class as career and technical education a few years ago, she said. That’s already helped students work toward opportunities available for licensed drone operators, such as in photography and videography, the military and agriculture.
“I know of one student who, immediately upon graduation, had a job with a real estate company to use the drone to take aerial photos of properties,” she said.
Asked what support the program offers to students to reach those careers, she wrote: “Our program offers comprehensive career preparation through industry-recognized certifications and hands-on work experience. Students can pursue FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Licenses through our CTE program, and our Performance Drone Team interns gain valuable hands-on experience in two specialized pathways: becoming FAA Part 107 Certified Pilots or Project Manager/Lead Animators.”
Other fields where students with drone experience might work are aviation, robotics, computer science, entertainment technology, event planning and business development, according to Chastaine.
The district is also interested in creating opportunities for students through local partners, she wrote.
“Looking ahead, we’re actively exploring partnerships with local businesses and organizations that could provide internship opportunities, guest expertise, and potential career pathways for our graduates. The drone industry is rapidly expanding across the country, and we want to ensure our students are well-positioned to take advantage of these emerging opportunities. We welcome connections with companies interested in partnering with our program to create meaningful career development opportunities for our students.”
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 10:20 AM.
