Board Asked To 'Save a Spot' for Preschool
By Leslie Rott

"People are having babies," said Urvana Morse during the public comment time at the school board meeting Thursday, May 25, when the possibility of a preschool program in the fall was the topic that guided the meeting. "We are getting more and more kids all the time."

Mrs. Morse emphasized the necessity of having a preschool program in the fall, asking trustees to "save a spot for preschool" and saying that the two major hurdles standing in the way are licensing and a place to house the children. "Preschool is important," she said. "It's a great way to get a good foundation to kids."

Superintendent Jack Dehring said he worried that low enrollment could halt the program again, as it did this year. He also said he did not know if a suitable room would be available for the classes.

"The best option I can think of right now would be to use the small gym in the afternoons," Mr. Dehring said. He will continue to work with Mrs. Morse and other parents to reestablish some kind of preschool program in the fall.

In other business, nearly $10,000 in scholarships were announced for seniors. Tyler Finkel, Miranda McMahon, and Jason Pettit each received $2,500 from the John Franks Scholarship Fund, and Melissa Bunker, Sam Kamphuis, Christina McLean, Miranda McMahon, Jason Pettit, and Emily St. Onge each received $500 from both the Stella King Scholarship Fund and the Boys of Mackinac Scholarship Fund.

Mr. Dehring announced that owing to the expiration of handheld computer funding through the Freedom to Learn program, the school will instead be receiving $10,000 to buy 10 laptops. The school originally bought Palm Pilots for every student to have. The laptops will be used in addition to the Palm Pilots.

Mr. Dehring also informed the board that House Bill 4755 would require school boards to hold their elections in November on either even or odd years. This change would affect the way the Headley Amendment affects tax revenue and could potentially change the terms of board members. The Mackinac Island Board of Education usually holds its elections in June. The bill has yet to be voted on in the Senate.

Mr. Dehring reported that none of the employees at Mackinac Island Public School have criminal records, as reported by the Michigan Department of Education.

School Board Secretary Trish Martin informed the board that more than 30 applications have been received for the position of superintendent.

"We have a lot of sorting to do," she said. The board will be meeting this week to go through the applications, and, following interviews and hometown visits, hopes to have a new superintendent in place by July 1.