Sturgis

The field of six candidates for Sturgis Public Schools’ superintendent position has been whittled to a list of two names. Nicole Airgood, the district’s current assistant superintendent, and Arthur Ebert, deputy superintendent of West Bloomfield Schools, were chosen as finalists this week. Airgood has been with the district for nine years. She previously served in administrative and teacher positions at …

Sturgis High School teacher Patty Davidson has been named the 2017 John E. Oster award winner. The honor is handed out yearly for teaching excellence at Sturgis Public Schools and is given out by the Sturgis Rotary Club. Davidson has taught at SPS since 1987 and has shown innovation and success teaching classes like Women’s Fitness and Self Defense, Life …

State Rep. Aaron Miller said all local K-12 school districts in communities he serves will receive the maximum increase of state funding in the new school budget. Miller said every K-12 school district in the state is in line for an increase per student under the 2017-18 school-aid budget. The schools in the communities he serves will all receive the …

The first of St. Joseph County’s nine school districts returned to school Tuesday, while four others will begin classes Monday. Burr Oak Community Schools started its academic year Tuesday to stay consistent with the calendar followed by the Branch Area Careers Center. Meanwhile, students in Colon, Constantine, Mendon and White Pigeon will head back to classrooms Monday next week. The …

The 2017 Wiesloch Sister City Exchange between Sturgis and the German town was experienced earlier this month by 16 Sturgis High School students and their two teacher chaperones. The students participated in the longstanding exchange program between the two sister cities. Students left Sturgis June 19 and returned July 10. The exchange occurs annually and lasts three weeks. Their travels …

Keith Lang has tendered his resignation at Sturgis Public Schools. Early this year, the former Sturgis High School teacher was charged with multiple counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and other offenses. At that time, a police investigation showed he allegedly had a sexual relationship with a minor student. He initially was charged with single counts of distributing or promoting …

The Exchange Club of Sturgis held its 33rd annual youth awards program earlier this month at Sturges-Young Auditorium. Among those honored was Sturgis High School senior Sara Trine, who was named Exchange Club’s “Student of the Year.” She read from an essay she wrote about the topic of community service. Exchange Club of Sturgis also presented the 2017 Young Citizenship …

High school graduations in four of the county’s eight public school districts have taken place. Seniors in Burr Oak were graduated May 21, the first school to stage its commencement. Meanwhile, Centreville, White Pigeon and Constantine high schools held their ceremonies Friday last week. Colon High School’s graduation will be Friday, followed by Sturgis and Mendon high schools on Sunday. …

A Sturgis teacher accused of have a sexual relationship with a student waived his preliminary hearing in court last week. Keith Lang remains free after posting $150,000 bond. St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough charged Lang with one count of distributing or promoting child sexually abusive activity, one count of using a computer to commit a crime, one count of …

Members of Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education last month approved a revised superintendent’s contract to allow Tom Langdon to retire next year. Langdon had approached the board and said he would be willing to retire March 31, 2018, with some consideration from the board to help make that happen. Board president Ann Bird said the new contract details the …