Teacher’s death in classroom leads to BHS closing, cancelling exams

Michael Caulk, 64, a social studies teacher at Belleville High School, was found dead in his classroom late Wednesday night, June 12, and so BHS was closed for the day on Thursday.
Belleville Police Chief Gene Taylor said a family member called Belleville Police at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday and officers found the teacher in his classroom about 11 p.m.
Mr. Caulk lived in Saline and did not come home after school on Wednesday. He died from a heart attack, according to an autopsy.
Van Buren Public Schools Superintendent Michael Van Tassel released a statement on Thursday afternoon: “Van Buren Public Schools Community lost a member of our educational family yesterday. He was a committed and dedicated teacher at Belleville High School. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, his current and former students, and the faculty who worked with him for so many years.”
Students held a candlelight vigil for the popular teacher on Thursday evening.
When school was closed on Thursday, the scheduled exams for hours 1, 2, and 3 could not be taken. On Friday, the last day of school, exams for hours 4, 5, and 6 took place as scheduled.
On Friday, BHS Principal Abdul Madyun announced that it was decided that 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hour teachers will grade students out based on their 3rd and 4th marking period grades. The exams scheduled for Thursday were cancelled.
Students who wanted to take those exams, had to notify their 4th-hour teacher Friday morning. The students were invited to come back Friday afternoon or Monday morning to take their exams in the mini-auditorium. More than 100 signed up for the exams.
BHS dismissed for the summer at 10:47 a.m. Friday, June 14.