HUNTINGTON -- Huntington High School assistant band director and music teacher thought he had made his case last week at a hearing to save his job.

Members of the school board apparently thought differently. The board voted 4-1 to approve Superintendent William Smith's recommendation to transfer Jeremy Richardson. Being transferred means Richardson, along with the dozens of others on the list, will have jobs next year.

The decision was a tough pill to swallow not only for Richardson but for the Band Director Melissa Ash, who said the program has suffered because it has consistently been the target of yearly transfers.

"The number of requests for next year has increased by 108 students," Ash said while the board deliberated the decision in an executive session. "I have had three assistant band directors in the last three years. He wants to be a part of these kids' lives."

Richardson, whose hearing drew a standing-room only crowd of parents and students last week, said he's disappointed that only one board member -- Suzanne Oxley -- sided with him.

"I'm appalled," an emotional Richardson said. "I think it's a horrible decision not just for me but for all my students. Just when we thought we were going to build a successful program, they come and take it away."

Richardson is teaching six classes this year, including guitar and orchestra. And with about 200 students signed up for guitar classes next year, he fears they won't be served by a part-time teacher.

Huntington High sophomore Tanner Wall said he likely will be dropping the class now that Richardson won't be teaching it. While Wall may voluntarily change his schedule, other students may be forced to because the number of classes needed to accommodate them won't be available.

Board member Greg Borowski believes Richardson will have a job at Huntington Middle next year, and he's confident he'll be able to spread his passion to those students. And, he said, Richardson can bid for the assistant band director's position at Huntington High this summer.

"These are some of the tough decisions we need to make," Borowski said. "This time we didn't feel like we could financially justify keeping the position."