Teacher in controversy resigns

The Gateway School District music teacher who set off a storm of protest when it was proposed that he replace a long-time, much-beloved teacher at the middle school has resigned.

The school board accepted the resignation of Ronald Spang at its business meeting Wednesday, saying only that Spang resigned for personal reasons.

Spang was hired earlier this month to be the music teacher at Gateway Middle School, replacing Wilbert Dunlap, who was moved to Moss Side Middle School to replace a teacher who retired.

Spang also was scheduled to teach general music and direct the band and jazz band, as well as work with the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra students.

Several district parents voiced objections at a school board meeting July 17, after it was learned that the district planned to have orchestra teacher Robert Moyer teach fourth-graders at the five elementary schools, as well as Moss Side Middle fifth- and sixth-graders and high school students, but not at Gateway Middle.

Until last year, Moyer taught orchestra classes for seventh- and eighth-graders at Gateway Middle School, and Wilbert Dunlap taught band. However, Moss Side's band teacher retired at the end of the school year and Dunlap was transferred to Moss Side.

District officials said removing Moyer would enhance, not hurt, the district's orchestral program. But at its Aug. 12 agenda meeting, the board decided to go along with parents' wishes to keep Moyer as the orchestra teacher at Gateway Middle School.

That would have left Spang teaching general music as well as directing the band and jazz band.

The district plans to fill the Gateway Middle music teacher post at the next school board meeting, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the board room, 9000 Gateway Campus Blvd.

District Director of Personnel Services Robert Reger said he has a number of candidates who are interested in the position, including a half-time teacher at Pitcairn Elementary.