Live Oak Emerald Regime sophomore tenor sax player Alvin To performs, while baritones and trombones are played in the background, during the 15th Annual Western Band Association marching band and color guard competition at Gilroy High School in October. Live Oak won Best of Class in their division.
After four years of heading the Morgan Hill Unified School District's most visible noisemakers, Live Oak High School Emerald Regime Band Director and middle and high school band teacher Greg Bergantz resigned to accept a position with a San Jose school.
His resignation is a blow to parents and students of Live Oak's band program, which has thrived under his leadership over the past four years.
Bergantz formally resigned on June 24, after being approved for hire by the Moreland School District Board of Trustees at their June 10 meeting.
Bergantz said he was leaving a music-deprived district for a music-friendly one. At the time he made the decision to accept the middle school music teaching position, Bergantz said he wasn't sure what the upcoming school year would look like for him. There was talk of him taking on a third school to teach at since declining music enrollment numbers threatened the two music classes offered at Britton Middle School. A third site would have strained his schedule and added to his workload, he said.
Bergantz started with the district as a full-time high school band teacher in 2004. But when the choir class had low enrollment in 2006 and was canceled, he took on a music class at Britton so he would remain full-time. Then, in 2007, marching band went from being a full-year class to a fall-only class, and Bergantz took on another Britton class while still teaching marching band for half the year.
"It hit me pretty hard," he said of the change. "It's not what I had in mind."
Ironically, Bergantz said this dual-duty helped him remember what he liked about teaching middle school band.
"This experience reminded me of how pliable the younger students can be," he wrote in an email to parents and students. "To see and hear the improvement over the period of a school year was exhilarating."
Bergantz said Moreland Superintendent Glen Ishiwata approached Bergantz about the position at Moreland Middle School. Ishiwata is a former student of Bergantz's father, Ross Bergantz, who was a band teacher at a San Jose high school.
"Stable employment with a school district that recognizes that supporting music means much more than giving it lip service is more than just compelling. It's a must," Bergantz wrote.
In a statement to the Times, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Michael Johnson wished Bergantz well.
"We will do all we can to hire a replacement with the same commitment that Greg gave to his students and the district's music program," Johnson wrote.
Johnson was optimistic about finding a replacement, even on such short notice, saying in the statement that Morgan Hill is a great community to live and work and the district offers competitive salaries and benefits.
Bergantz would have earned $74,000 for the 2008-2009 school year with Morgan Hill and will make $83,000 at Moreland School District. But, he said the salary didn't really factor into his decision to leave.
"It's being able to be at one school, in a district with a superintendent and administration that have a sincere desire to develop a successful music program," he said.
Johnson said the dual assignment role would present a challenge to a candidate, but the position has "unique and significant advantages."
"Being in charge of both the middle and high schools' music programs, he or she will have the opportunity to build and establish continuity between them both," Johnson wrote.
At press time, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Jay Totter said the district had four applicants for the music teacher opening.
While Bergantz was here, the Emerald Regime won first and second places in regional competitions.
"I never thought (the Emerald Regime) would enjoy so much success together," he wrote. "When I came to Live Oak, my highest expectation was that we would simply not embarrass ourselves."
Parent Lisa Kellett said Bergantz allowed her son to shadow the marching band, even while he was still in middle school.
"Greg is a tremendous director," Kellett said. "He's willing to give any kid who's willing to learn the opportunity to learn."
Beth Hartman, who has a daughter entering Live Oak after having Bergantz as a teacher at Britton Middle School, said she was sad to see him go.
"He's a wonderful man, and has done a lot of good things for Emerald Regime," she said. "We're hoping to find someone who will bring quality, so we can continue with the excellence that the Emerald Regime has brought to our community."
Natalie Everett Natalie Everett is the education and city reporter for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106, ext. 201, or neverett@morganhilltimes.com.
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