Alliance High Band Instructor Dave Rischling (left) will retire at the end of the current school year.

Rischling presented his letter of resignation at Monday night’s school board meeting.

He has been involved with the Alliance Public Schools Music Department for over 20 years.  He and his brother, Dick Rischling, along with their wives Shawna and Gretchen, were named Heritage Days grand marshals in 2004 in honor of the outstanding band programs they had built in Alliance … including the organization of the band’s trip to Washington, DC and New York City every four years, which began in 1988.

Rischling started teaching in Alliance in August of 1992, after his father, Bill Rischling, retired as the middle school band director.  Dave took the high school band in the fall, 2010,  after Dick’s retirement.

Rischling’s first teaching job was band and HS choir for Perkins County High School in Grant from 1979-1984,  then Bridgeport Public Schools band from 1984-1992.

“My future plans are to keep working,” he said.  “I would like to spend more time working as an insurance claims adjuster during storm seasons.  During the winter months I plan on spending time in my shop working on wood projects.  I also hope to find some time to go fishing again.”

Rischling says it has been a privilege to teach band for APS.

“Our students are the best,” he said.  “The support the band receives from the school and community makes Alliance a great place to teach band.”

Pictured above: Dave, Shawna, Gretchen, and Dick Rischling, honored as Heritage Days Grand Marshals in 2004.