School board acts on criminal charges

The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education recently voted unanimously to proceed with tenure charges pursuant to the Teachers’ Tenure Act against Keith Lang.
Lang, a tenured teacher, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of fourth- degree criminal sexual conduct and other criminal charges.
In a separate vote, board members voted unanimously to place Lang’s salary into escrow and discontinue both his health and life insurance benefits.
On Jan. 16, Lang provided the district with an arraignment disclosure form, which outlined criminal charges filed against him by the St. Joseph County prosecutor. On Feb. 28, the court provided an amended felony complaint outlining amended criminal charges filed against Lang.
The Teachers’ Tenure Act states that if criminal charges have been filed against a teacher, a controlling board may place the teacher’s salary into an escrow account during a suspension.
Lang had been a teacher at Sturgis High School since 2004. He taught advanced science classes and was a freshman and junior varsity football coach for 10 years.