A popular longtime math teacher at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School has quietly changed jobs, citing health concerns from the poor condition of facilities at the high school.

Kenneth DeBettencourt taught math at the high school for 25 years, injecting enthusiasm and creativity into his classroom and holding daily 6:30 a.m. math sessions. He created contests including cardboard boat races and the annual linguini bridge challenge, where freshman math students compete to engineer the strongest bridge using dried Prince linguini noodles and Elmer’s glue.

Mr. DeBettencourt is now teaching junior high math at the Edgartown School, school leaders said. His letter of resignation at the high school was submitted at the end of the school year in June, but did not come before the regional district school committee until last week.

In the detailed letter, Mr. DeBettencourt said a leaking roof that dates to 1991 led to a mold problem in his classroom that was never resolved. “Unfortunately this year, my health issues became much worse,” he wrote. “I had to take numerous sick days to deal with the chronic migraines, nausea, and fatigue that my doctors have concluded are the direct result of the poor air quality, mold, excessive dust and dirt, and the presence of rodents in my classroom, as well as many other areas in the building.”

Mr. DeBettencourt is now teaching junior high math in Edgartown.

Mark Lovewell

Mr. DeBettencourt is now teaching junior high math in Edgartown.

Mark Lovewell

At the monthly school committee meeting last week the resignation was accepted with regret and appreciation for the years of work and leadership Mr. DeBettencourt has provided.

The Gazette tried to reach Mr. DeBettencourt by telephone following the meeting, but was unsuccessful.

Vineyard schools superintendent Matthew D’Andrea also said later that administrators are working to correct the problems. “We take the health and safety of the building very seriously,” he said, adding: “We have done a complete battery of tasks, testing air quality in building, testing for mold, testing for water quality, and we will continue doing that to make sure the building is safe . . . . I know the letter had mentioned rodents, that too is being addressed, we are working with an exterminator, we have since all of last year, making sure that is no longer a problem.”

Long-term upgrades to the ailing high school physical plant have been under discussion at the district committee level for the past year, although a strategic plan, including funding, has not been fully developed.

At the meeting last week Mr. D’Andrea added his words of praise for Mr. DeBettencourt’s contributions to the school. “Kenny will be missed,” he said.