High school band directors tell Seminole board festival mandate fuels burnout; ask for relief

Several Seminole County high-school band directors urged the school board on Sept. 16 to reconsider requiring a locally run marching festival they say is causing staff burnout and is duplicative of state performance events.

"This year, after many principals voiced support for us in not doing the festival for this season, we were told the festival was mandatory and a term of our employment," said Brian Koopman, band director at Hagerty High School. "That is not in our contract." Koopman and other directors said festival planning now falls to directors and parent volunteers after a local sponsor withdrew years ago.

Why it matters: Directors said the event duplicates marching MPA, creates uncompensated weekend work, and that district directives and warnings about job risk if the festival is not held are discouraging teachers and harming program sustainability.

What directors said - Brian Koopman (Hagerty High School) described long hours and said the district told directors the festival was a required term of employment despite their contract language that "supplements are not considered terms of employment." He said he felt "defeated, threatened, and intimidated" for raising the issue. - Brad Cooperman (band director) said the festival began as an Optimist Club community event and that, after the club stepped away, directors and parents absorbed nearly all planning. He said directors unanimously decided to take a break this year because the workload is unsustainable. - Jose (band director at another high school) said many directors ask whether the festival still serves the same purpose now that district MPA exists and asked whether the board could help with funding for transportation and related costs.

Board follow-up and context No formal board action was recorded on the festival during the meeting. Directors asked the board to open dialogue with district leadership about whether the festival should remain mandatory, to consider compensating summer and out-of-school work, and to explore funding support if the event continues.

Supporting detail from the meeting - Directors said the festival was originally organized by an Optimist Club, which stepped away over a decade ago. - Directors said they frequently conduct unpaid summer band camps and multiple rehearsals to prepare for the season. - Directors reported being told by district staff that failure to organize the event could place their positions at risk; the directors described that guidance as "devastating" and said it increased fear of losing jobs.

Next steps Directors asked for a dialogue with the board and district staff to clarify whether the festival is a voluntary community event or a mandated employment requirement and to discuss supports for staffing and travel costs.