Criminal Justice program tours State Police Training Academy

Nearly 30 local high school juniors and seniors in the Criminal Justice class at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center recently toured the Michigan State Police (MSP) Training Academy in Lansing. Tour stops included the academy's fitness center, firing range, driving track, K-9 kennels, and the water "tank" in which rescue trainings are conducted. Sgt. Marc Shore also spent time with the students answering questions as well as discussing the MSP hiring process and what to expect as a trooper.

"I think some of the students’ eyes were opened as to what would be required of them if they wanted to pursue a job with the MSP,” said Criminal Justice Instructor DJ Newman. “I feel that it is very important to show them as many different types of careers in the field as I can. Some of the kids are strongly considering becoming a Michigan State Police Trooper. The experience gained today will hopefully push them in or out of that."

Criminal Justice is one of nine career and technical education (CTE) offerings of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. High School juniors and seniors from Clare and Gladwin counties spend half of their school day in their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

For more information about the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, visit www.cgresd.net. 

Local high schools to participate in College Application Week

The five local high schools in Clare and Gladwin counties, along with Coleman High School,  will be are joining more than 200 high schools around the state in presenting Michigan’s fourth annual College Application Week. The Clare-Gladwin Career Center, Mid Michigan Community College, and Educational Talent Search have joined efforts to assist the region’s graduating seniors in completing and submitting at least one application to any of Michigan’s community colleges, independent colleges, and universities in which they are interested. 

“The goal of the program is to give students the tools and guidance they need to successfully apply to college,” said Clare-Gladwin Career Center Counselor Margie Dill. “It is our hope this process will give kids additional confidence and drive to continue to submit applications - in turn providing them with more options for their future.”

Leading up to and during College Application Week, area high school seniors will be participating in various activities designed to help expand their knowledge of the technical schools, colleges and universities in Michigan. The goal is to have students well-informed about their opportunities so they will be prepared when their school hosts Application Day.

Representatives from Mid Michigan Community College, Saginaw State University, Central Michigan University, the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, and Educational Talent Search will be at the participating schools to assist students in the application process.  There will be opportunities for application fee waivers during this time to ensure all students can apply to the schools of their choice.

Farwell High School is scheduled to host its Application Day on Monday, November 3.  Gladwin and Harrison high schools will host on November 4, followed by Coleman High School on November 5, Beaverton High School on November 6, and Clare High School on November 7.

Established in 2005, College Application Week is a national campaign sponsored by the Michigan College Access Network committed to the common goal of increasing the percentage of first-generation and low-income students to pursue a postsecondary education.  Last year, 534 applications were submitted by students from Clare and Gladwin counties as a result of Michigan College Application Week.

For additional information, please contact Margie Dill at 989-229-8710. 

Clare-Gladwin RESD offers online learning option through 'MROC'

Clare-Gladwin RESD and its consortium districts recently unveiled the Middle Michigan Regional Online Collaborative (MROC), offering local students in grades 9-12 with an online learning option.  The program gives high school students in Beaverton, Bullock Creek, Clare, Coleman, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison school districts the opportunity to take up to two high school courses online each semester.

Unlike a traditional online education experience, MROC provides multiple systems of support to help ensure students success. MROC courses are each taught by a teacher from a local participating school district who is highly qualified in his or her respective subject area. Students are also assigned a mentor teacher from their home high school who will monitor their progress during the course and assist them in developing the unique skills needed for online learning.

“The program is intended for students who want to try online learning, have openings in their schedules, or want to take classes that aren't available at the right time of the day at their school,” said Joe Trommater, data/special projects coordinator at Clare-Gladwin RESD. “The idea is to offer an online alternative for students with greater support and more local control than what is currently out there.”

MROC is offered at no cost to students. To see the list of course options, visit www.cgresd.net. For more information, contact Joe Trommater at 989-386-8602.

Not a new tax; Clare, Farwell, and Harrison school districts each seek renewal of non-homestead millage in November

On the November 4 ballot, voters residing in the districts of Clare Public Schools, Farwell Area Schools, and Harrison Community Schools will see a non-homestead millage renewal request for their respective school district. These are not new taxes, but renewals of existing millages that have been in place since 1994 as a result of Michigan voters passing Proposal A. The funds generated help support the operational needs of the districts each year.

 A non-homestead millage does not impact the property taxes on a family’s primary residence; it only applies to non-homestead properties, such as industrial, commercial, and some agricultural property and second homes.

The non-homestead millage was established in school districts across the state following Michigan voters passing Proposal A in 1994. In order for schools to receive the full per-student funding amount from the state, the district must first levy 18 mills on local non-homestead property.  The state then pays the district the foundation allowance minus the 18-mill levy. The state assumes school districts collect 18 mills on non-homestead properties, meaning those funds would not be replaced should the millage not be renewed.

In Harrison, the millage generates approximately $3.6 million per year, or about 27 percent of the district’s total budget. According to Harrison Community Schools Superintendent Tom House, “Failure to pass the renewal of the 18-mill levy on non-homestead property would result in devastating cuts to school programs in Harrison and the other districts.”

Farwell Area Schools relies on the non-homestead millage to provide approximately 31 percent of the district’s budget, or close to $3.8 million annually. “Without the funds generated from this millage each year, our district could not continue to operate,” said Farwell Area Schools Superintendent Carl Seiter.

For Clare Public Schools, if the non-homestead millage is not renewed, the district would lose approximately $1.6 million each year, which equates to around 12 percent of their yearly budget. “The Clare community is very supportive and they understand just how important this basic funding source is to our district and their kids,” said Clare Public Schools Superintendent Doniel Pummell. “Pioneers get things done and lead the way!”  

While the non-homestead millages are expiring in all three Clare County school districts this year, residents’ votes will solely impact the school district in which they live.

For a list of frequently asked questions about the Non-Homestead Millage renewal, please visit your local school district’s website:

Clare Public Schools

Farwell Area Schools

Harrison Community Schools

Clare-Gladwin Middle College welcomes ten new students for 14-15 school year

The Clare-Gladwin Middle College, a program of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, welcomed ten new students this school year. The Clare-Gladwin Middle College offers a select number of students from local high schools the opportunity to earn college credits from Mid Michigan Community College while still in high school. The juniors and seniors spend half of their school day at their high school and the other half attending classes at Mid.

With limited spots available in the Middle College each year, Middle College Mentor Candace Opalewski said the selection process is a competitive one and all of the applicants are interviewed before a decision is made. Factors taken into consideration during the selection include the types of challenges the students have faced in their lives, if they have the drive to achieve more despite their circumstances, if they’ll utilize the support services the Middle College offers, what their future plans entail, and more. 

Opalewski provides the students with tutoring, as well as extra support and guidance to help them succeed during their first experience with college courses.

The Clare-Gladwin Career Center is a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD.

Clare-Gladwin Career Center student completes Michigan State Police Training Academy

Brad Gallagher of the career and technical education (CTE) Criminal Justice program at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, attended the American Legion Michigan State Police Training Academy this summer in Lansing. The week-long offering teaches students in grades 10-12 about careers in law enforcement.

After 5 a.m. physical training sessions, the Gladwin High School senior’s days were filled with classroom sessions where he learned about the proper handling of firearms, self-defense techniques, water safety, the crime lab, and forensics.  His regimented schedule continued with a second physical training session in the afternoon, followed by additional classroom sessions until 10 p.m.

According to Gallagher, students attending the academy learned directly from experts in specialized forces of the police academy, including the SWAT team and the K-9 Unit.

“The academy really made me realize I want a career in law enforcement,” said Gallagher. “I’m especially interested in becoming a corrections officer or a state trooper.”

Gallagher also credited his experience in the CTE Criminal Justice program at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center for preparing him for the academy. “Because of CTE, I was already familiar with some of the laws and other topics we learned about at the academy, which was really helpful.”

Following graduation this spring, Gallagher plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice at Ferris State University.

Criminal Justice is one of nine career and technical education (CTE) programs offered to local high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. Students spend half of their regular school day in CTE and the other half at their local high school. For more information, please visit www.cgresd.net.