Attendance Secretary Takes Permanent Excused Absence
NEIRAD enilno edition
As tardy students stagger into school with lack of sleep quite apparent in their ruffled appearance and bed-ridden eyes, they join the winding board game-like line, waiting to receive their “golden ticket” to class. But Mr. Willy Wonka isn’t the one to greet these lethargic youth at the front desk in the morning. No, this onus is given to Chuck Ferguson, the attendance man.
Although Mr. Ferguson does not hold the keys to Candy Land, he does offer a welcoming smile, and without his signature one wouldn’t be able to attain a slip of admittance to class. However, due to the recent and oh so lovely budget cuts, Mr. Ferguson will no longer be the receptionist manning the front desk in his quaint leather seat after June 21. After 11 years of service to the Darien Public Schools, Mr. Ferguson is being let go.
The students’ response to this monstrosity? Well, in the words of senior Kenny Weiss, “Without "Chuck" sitting at the front desk, I won't get a hello when I walk by!”
According to Kelly Keating, a sophomore, who was unaware that Mr. Ferguson will not rejoin the student body and faculty members in the fall, said, “I didn’t know him [Mr. Ferguson] personally, but he seems like a nice man who is willing to help students.”
But Mr. Ferguson hasn’t worked at DHS his entire life. In fact, after growing up in Pittsburgh, PA as an avid Pirates and Steeler’s fan, Mr. Ferguson attended Penn State, where he completed the U.S. Steel Engineering Training Program. Mr. Ferguson also took graduate courses at Carnegie Mellon University, Central Michigan University, and Columbia University. After finishing his studies, Mr. Ferguson established an electronics company that had an office in both New York City and Chicago.
Although most of Mr. Ferguson’s early occupation years were spent dealing with technology, Mr. Ferguson pursued his teaching career on the side. Mr. Ferguson taught classes as a side job at various colleges, such as Delta and Michigan College. Some courses that he taught were Critical and Creative Thinking, Business Psychology, Logic and Design of Digital Computers, Mathematical Analysis, and Business Applications.
Later on, Mr. Ferguson returned back to the northeast after retiring from his business career where he landed the position as a substitute teacher in the Darien Public Schools District. After being a sub for five and a half years, Mr. Ferguson became the official attendance policy director of Darien High School in 1999.
Although Mr. Ferguson’s job may look single handedly composed of writing passes to classes for students, his position allows him to come into direct contact with the student body and their parents. Keeping record of people’s attendance is extremely vital, but according to Mr. Ferguson, he will miss the “contact with young people” most of all. Besides Weiss, Mr. Ferguson has made countless other friends throughout the years that he has worked at the front desk because he is able to see many people each and every day as they pass by the front entrance of the school.
Mr. Ferguson may love his job, but sometimes he feels overwhelmed by the volume of students who are absence. According to Mr. Ferguson, there are some days where he is constantly sitting at his computer trying to make sure the attendance is accurate for all 1,308 teenagers.
Throughout the years, Mr. Ferguson has received countless excuses from parents and students about being tardy or missing class, but one justification stands out in his mind above the rest. According to Mr. Ferguson, one parent called in saying their child was extremely ill and that an ambulance was on its way to take their kid to the hospital for medical treatment. However, Mr. Ferguson was able to hear an announcement in the background that was broadcasting boarding and flight departing times at a distant airport.
A tight budget, due to the economic crisis that has struck our little town, is the reason why Mr. Ferguson will not be there to welcome students as they come into school next year. However, Mr. Ferguson is unaware of who his predecessor will be. “The job still exists,” said Mr. Ferguson.
Although Mr. Ferguson is extremely upset about being let go, he is eager to begin the next phase of his life. Mr. Ferguson has reserved various homes around the world where he will be residing for a couple of months at a time. He will be starting his retreat in the Florida Keys for a month. After relaxing on the beach, Mr. Ferguson will journey to Sin City, or Las Vegas, which he is extremely excited for. This upcoming winter if you happen to be spending your February break in Colorado, you just might see Mr. Ferguson skiing on the slopes. Mr. Ferguson’s last destination will be diving amidst the exotic waters of St Maarten.
Mr. Ferguson is the first and last face you see as students see when they enter and exit through the front doors of the school. Before he takes his final bow as the attendance man, Mr. Ferguson would like to leave the student body with this last, final message, “After working at DHS, I have realized the quality of the future generation, and I wouldn’t have wanted to experience it in any other way.” The Darien High School community thanks you and will miss you Mr. Ferguson!
