Island's Science Teacher Ferguson Resigns

Jeff Ferguson

Jeff Ferguson, a high school science teacher for Mackinac Island Public School since 2005, resigned for "personal reasons," it was announced at a school board meeting Thursday, April 24.

Mr. Ferguson submitted his letter of resignation to Superintendent Roger Schrock Monday, April 14, and will work until Friday, May 30, the end of the school year. The board accepted his resignation without discussion.

Mr. Ferguson, originally from Birmingham, replaced Nicole Helsel as the school's science teacher in September 2005.

Related to hiring a replacement, the board discussed removing the pay limit

for new teachers, so it can attract a larger pool of qualified applicants.

Teacher pay is based on years of experience, but new teacher pay is capped at five years experience. An applicant with 15 years of teaching experience elsewhere, therefore, would only be paid for having five years experience.

The cap has and will continue to eliminate good, qualified candidates, said Susan Bennett, the high school mathematics teacher and teacher union representative.

"If we could possibly remove the cap or revise it somehow, I think we would get a lot more qualified candidates," she told the board.

The matter was turned over to the Negotiations Committee.