Sturgis

Sturgis High School’s manufacturing class brought home eight first-place finishes during a recent state competition. The latest Michigan Industrial Technology Education Society, in fact, saw the Sturgis team bring home more award-winners than any other participating school. Led by instructor Jeff Wanamaker, the class bested Sturgis’ six state champions it claimed in 2019. The goal of the MITES competition is …

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education members have started the process of filling Scott Swihart’s vacant seat on the board. Swihart resigned from the board of education because of an increase in out-of-town work responsibilities. Swihart’s resignation was effective Dec. 10. The vacant position that the appointed person will fill ends Dec. 31, 2022. The deadline for anyone interested in …

The Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education recently approved the purchase of vaping sensors to be installed in all bathrooms and locker rooms at Sturgis Middle School and Sturgis High School. The board selected Summit Fire Protection of Paw Paw to install the 46 Halo Smart Sensors, which are required to cover all bathrooms and locker rooms in the two buildings. In addition …

Officials from the Sturgis Area Community Foundation have announced establishment of a new scholarship fund to benefit Sturgis High School students, possibly as soon as this year. The Harley and Eva Pierce Memorial Scholarship was established last week in memory of longtime Sturgis residents Harley and Eva Pierce. Its purpose is to provide financial aid for college to scholar-athletes who …

Sturgis Public Schools governance team recently completed an evaluation of Superintendent Art Ebert. The board assessed Ebert in 11 areas, including student growth, mission and vision, goals and expectations, processes and procedures, internal and external stakeholder relations, and communications and media relations. The board rated Ebert effective in five of the focus areas and highly effective in six of the focus areas, …

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education has selected Nick Herblet as principal at Sturgis High School. Herblet has 10 years of experience in educational administration as Lakeview Community Schools assistant principal/ athletic director, Ithaca Public Schools assistant principal/athletic director, Sturgis High School assistant principal, and Congress and Wenzel elementary principal. Prior to his career in educational administration, he worked nine …

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education voted Monday to discontinue the lease at the former Fawn River School and prepare the property for sale. Ray Sterling, director of finance for the district, said it was recommended by the finance committee not to renew the lease at the property for the 2019-20 school year. That lease expires June 30, at which time the …

After 22 years working in education, Sturgis High School Principal Ron Ehlers has announced he is retiring. His last day will be June 30. District officials said Ehlers has been a strong advocate for students. They hope to fill the position by July 1, as it was posted last week internally and externally. The selection process will include application screening, …

Chris Gerbers has been selected as principal at Sturgis Middle School. Gerbers has served 16 years as an administrator, teacher and coach for the past 16 years in Indiana. He had been a school administrator the past 11 years and comes to Sturgis from Hamilton, Ind., where he served as junior and senior high school principal the past three years. Gerbers …

Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education has reached a contract agreement with Art Ebert, incoming superintendent. During Monday’s board meeting, its members voted unanimously to approve Ebert’s contract. Board president Ann Bird said the sides agreed to a three-year contract, similar in total to the amount that was paid in the last contract for recently-retired Tom Langdon. His last 12-month …