During the Thursday, December 15, Mackinac Island School Board meeting, Superintendent Jack Dehring told the board that the State Board of Education had approved to increase state high school graduation requirements Tuesday, December 13, and now legislators will take up the issue. He said Governor Jennifer Granholm recommends its approval.

The requirements include four years of mathematics and English language arts, three years of science and social studies, two credits of foreign languages, and one credit each of health/physical education and visual or performing arts.

The Island school adopted new graduation requirements earlier this year to include four years each of science and social science and one credit of both physical education and health.

Mr. Dehring said the fine arts and foreign language requirement might be difficult to implement because of the small teaching staff.

“There are going to be some issues, and they are going to be for all small schools,” he said.

The new requirements are being called the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Specific classes are required in mathematics, science, and social science. For math, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and an additional math class must be taken during the senior year of high school. To complete the three science requirements, students must take one year each of biology, physics, or chemistry, and one additional year of science. The three years of social science must include a semester of civics and a semester of economics.

The state currently only requires one year of civics for graduation, letting local school boards adopt the other requirements.

Sarah Chambers will run again for her seat on the Mackinac Island Public Schools board of trustees in the Tuesday, May 2, election. School board trustees are elected for four year terms.

Ms. Chambers later told The St. Ignace News, “I’ve enjoyed the last five years. It’s been a learning experience. I plan to do the best I can for the students and staff.”

Petitions for those interested in running need to be filed with City Clerk Karen Lennard by Tuesday, February 7.

Mr. Dehring said he anticipates the state will require all schools to establish a wellness committee next year. The impact will be mainly on schools with vending machines and a la carte services, he said. Such committees would limit amounts of fats and sugars in foods offered to students. The school’s committee on reproductive health will be asked to take on the dual role of operating as the wellness committee, too, with middle school science and mathematics teacher Liz Burt as chair.

The board adopted a confidentiality policy recommended by the Michigan Association of School Boards that the school will not give out any social security numbers.

A meeting to discuss the feasibility of consolidating the superintendent positions in area school districts is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, at 5:30 p.m., Mr. Dehring announced.

Mr. Dehring said Mackinac Island Public School placed third in the regional Lego Robotics competition and placed 31 out of 72 in the state finals in Novi Saturday, December 10.

Robots made from Lego building blocks and programed to perform specific tasks make up the competition’s requirements. Students programed their robot to repair an underwater pipeline, rescue a trapped dolphin, and rescue a submarine.

Team members from Mackinac Island’s eighth grade class are Tymon Horn, Jane Finkel, Shelbie Mosley, Roby Robinson, Jeff Roguska, Paul Fisher, Thomas Rilenge, and teacher Susan Bennett.

The school board next meets Thursday, January 26, at 6 p.m. in the school library.