Mr. Syman has been an integral part of our school for 12 years. He has not only been a remarkable teacher but a mentor, a guide and an inspiration to countless students over the years. He has a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise in his subject area, and has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his students' academic growth and personal development.

To clarify, the Hudson School District has decided that because the class of 2027 is so much smaller than the graduating class of 2023, to cut positions in the Physical Education, Music, and English departments. In the Music department, the Hudson School District has decided to cut band director, Mr. Syman, from his full time position to a half time position.

If his position were to become a half time position, Mr. Syman would not get insurance benefits and his salary would be cut, which would not be enough to accommodate his wife and baby. His options as of now are to either move districts or become the full time middle school band director. If Mr. Syman was to become a full time band director at the middle school, it is likely that a current band director at the middle school would be cut from his position.

The impact of Mr. Syman extends beyond the classroom. He has been actively involved in extracurricular activities such as our jazz ensemble and improvisation ensemble. Mr. Syman has gone above and beyond his duties as a band director and has earned the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues alike. Without him, we would not have the opportunity to participate in such activities. We would also have to remove the recently introduced AP music theory course for which many students have signed up for the upcoming year.

Cutting Mr. Syman would not only be a disservice to the students who would miss out on his teachings but would also negatively affect the morale of the band community. It would be a significant loss to the school, and we would be losing a valuable asset in the band department.

I strongly urge you to sign our petition and encourage the Hudson School District to change their decision and retain Mr. Syman as a Hudson High School band director full time. He is a vital member of our community and his departure would be a significant blow to our school's academic and cultural fabric.