CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern Washington University's marching band, previously targeted by the budget ax, has been spared.

Officials at the Cheney school announced their change of heart on Thursday.

The school is faced with $13.3 million in budget cuts, and cutting the band would have saved about $30,000 this year.

But Provost John Mason says recent "robust enrollment projections" mean EWU will have enough money to support the marching band.

College spokeswoman Teresa Conway tells The Spokesman-Review that Eastern's music department is making plans to hire a new band director to work with the nearly 100 students who make up the band.