Veteran Merced school district trustee Sam Spangler resigning

Sam Spangler of Winton, a Merced Union High School District trustee since January 2008, is resigning from the board.

In a letter Thursday to Merced County Superintendent of Schools Steve Gomes, Spangler said he is resigning, effective today, to focus on his family and career. The 47-year-old Spangler is a Merced County Sheriff’s Department deputy assigned to the Main Jail in downtown Merced.

Spangler told Gomes in the letter that it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as a trustee. He told the Sun-Star on Friday that the demands of being a trustee were becoming too much.

“I enjoyed it immensely,” Spangler said. “All the people are just outstanding; it’s one thing I’m going to miss.”

Still Spangler, who has been a deputy for 22 years, said being a trustee is a huge commitment. His term representing Area 3 ends Dec. 31, 2016.

Spangler said he is most proud of his efforts to support career and technical education, especially agriculture, as well as revamp infrastructure to provide modern computer technology for schools.

Fellow Trustee Dave Honey said Spangler’s resignation from the five-member board will be a tremendous loss to the district.

“Sam as a board member was always well-prepared,” Honey said. “He asked the questions that needed to be asked. Teachers and classified really had a friend in Sam. He was one of the best board members I ever worked with.”

Honey said Spangler’s daughter is a teacher and his wife works as a classified employee in another school district. His previous experience as a Winton school board member gave him experience and perspective on being a trustee.

Scott Scambray, district superintendent, said Spangler’s resignation was a big shock.

“He told us he wanted to spend more time with his family,” Scambray said. “Sam was on the board during difficult financial times, and times of great student achievement and growth. There’s a lot to be proud about.”

Trustee Ida Johnson of Merced sympathized with Spangler’s decision.

“Being on the board is very time-consuming,” Johnson said. “You have so much to do, so much reading, advisory meetings. It’s a voluntary position, but it’s a job.”

Johnson explained that trustees have to do their homework and go through large stacks of papers to make sound decisions.

She said trustees probably would appoint someone to fill Spangler’s seat. Their other option would be the added expense of holding a special election.

Trustee Will Snyder praised Spangler as a trustee.

“I think Sam Spangler is a good man,” Snyder said. “He protected taxpayers’ dollars tremendously. Sam stood his ground and defended the workers of the district.”

Snyder said Spangler stood up for what he believed even when it wasn’t popular and showed courage on the board many times. He also expects trustees to appoint someone to fill Spangler’s unexpired term.

This story was originally published September 28, 2014 at 6:42 PM with the headline "Veteran Merced school district trustee Sam Spangler resigning."