School Seeks To Fill Two Open Teachers Positions

Mackinac Island Public School Board of Education: (from left, front row) Superintendent Jack Dehring, Sara Chambers; (middle) Leanne Brodeur, Trish Martin, Ben Mosley; (back row) Larry Rickley, Jason St. Onge, and Paul Wandrie.

By Ryan Schlehuber

The Board of Education is discussing the hiring of a business teacher and new special education teacher.

At a regular meeting Thursday, January 20, trustees discussed the possibilities of hiring a business teacher for the first time since Sharon Reese retired about five years ago. The board also would like to find a new special education teacher to relieve Karen Allen, who has taken over the position following the resignation of Kara King last summer.

Ms. Allen is also the language arts and social studies teacher for grades four through seven and serves as the elementary school principal.

“Karen doesn’t have the time to assist all the kids in special education,” said Superintendent Jack Dehring. “We’re using Mrs. (Vicki) Urman as a resource person and she won’t be able to do that next year,” owing to scheduling conflicts.

Mr. Dehring suggested hiring a teacher who can split the day between special education and another subject.

“The ideal teacher we’d like to hire is one who could teach business and special education,” said Mr. Dehring after the meeting. He said because the school only has 65 students, the four high school teachers may be able to work together to fulfill the school’s need for business classes and special education assistance.

“Right now, we’re just exploring the options,” Mr. Dehring said.

The issue will be taken up and researched more by the board’s personnel committee of Trish Martin, Board President Ben Mosley, and Sara Chambers.

Mr. Dehring has posted the business teacher position for two months now, but has only received one applicant. He said he will wait for more applicants before making a decision. The special education position has not yet been posted.

Bus Use Agreement With St. Ignace Area Schools

The board agreed to assist St. Ignace Area Schools with purchasing two new buses for this year, with conditions that Mackinac Island have access to a bus for school trips. The board directed Mr. Dehring to work with St. Ignace and authorized $14,014 toward the new busses.

St. Ignace Area Schools, through a 0.24 millage over six years, will purchase two buses worth an estimated $57,000 each. It intends to purchase another bus later on to upgrade its fleet of five buses. Its existing buses are at least 10 years old.

Regular School Election Change

The board officially set annual school elections for the Tuesday following the first Monday in May, in conformance with the state’s new election consolidation law. This year, the election will be held Tuesday, May 3.

Trustees also authorized $1,000 each for the elementary and secondary school teacher travel accounts, eliminated from last year’s budget to save money.

“We need our teachers to attend professional development seminars to stay up to date with the No Child Left Behind program,” said Mr. Dehring.