FRANKLIN—When Ricky Edwards was hired in August as director of the Franklin High and J.P. King Middle school bands, he was greeted with a 14-member marching band.

Within a few weeks, Edwards increased the membership to 35.

Now that he’s “mysteriously departed” after about two months here, parents and students pleaded on Thursday night with the Franklin School Board to bring him back.

School Board President Bill Scarboro told them Edwards won’t be returning.

Assistant Superintendent Walter Clemons “is working hard to find not just someone who is breathing and can tune a horn, but someone who can carry the Franklin High School and middle school program. He’s got some good resumes.”

Phil Pollard, fundraising chairman for the Band Boosters, said people are in the dark about the “disappearance of our amazing band director.”

“The children want him back,” Pollard said. “We know the school board wants to do what is right for the children. He is very professional. The children really appreciated him. His ultimate goal was to build a band with discipline and structure.”

Band parent Wendy Maynard said she used to fight with her son to bring home his instrument. That changed when Edwards arrived.

Now Maynard is troubled by Edwards’ departure.

“I’m deeply saddened with the Franklin City Schools band program,” she said. “He (Edwards) was highly energetic and put a light in my children’s eyes I’d never seen before.”

Band member Parish Garza said he was looking forward to his senior year.

“Everything was going good, and then with just a blink of light, everything is gone now,” he said. “Something needs to happen. If we can’t get him back, we need something.”

Scarboro said he understands everyone’s concerns.

“I was a band student myself, from the fifth grade through graduate school in college,” he said. “I lived to be in the band. I loved every band director I had, and I still stay in touch. They were very important people in my life.”

Scarboro said he’s been concerned about the band program for some time, but could not comment about Edwards’ departure.

“The issue with the former band director is a personnel matter,” he said. “You’re just going to have to accept that the administration of the school has made the correct decision. I’m just as sorry as I can be about that.”

Edwards could not be reached.

He came to Franklin from Delaware State University in Dover, where he received a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in trumpet. A native of Wilmington, Del., he was his alma mater’s assistant band director for 1½ years.

Randolph Johnson, director of bands for Delaware State, said Friday he was surprised to hear about Edwards’ departure. Edwards was Johnson’s student and assistant director.

“He worked with me and he was great,” Johnson said. “He was such a good student.”

Franklin Public Schools asked Johnson for a recommendation before hiring Edwards.

“I felt he would do an excellent job, and he’s a good musician,” Johnson said.