I don't think this was entirely based on Ferris...
The characters of Parker, Mikey and Jerry had a lot in common with the characters out of the Rudyard Kipling book 'Stalky and Co', which was a book about 3 boys in an English Public School in the 19th Century who used their wits to outsmart their teachers and various older students in a series of almost surreal episodes.
Parker is Stalky - the leader who comes up with the plans, calls the shots and always comes out on top.
Mikey is M'Turk - the devil-may-care member of the group, Irish background, bit of an edge to him
Jerry is Beetle - the academic, the cautious voice amidst the two men of action.