Clare-Gladwin Area School awarded grant to create a garden at the John C. Magnus Center

 Throughout the 2014-2015 school year, the 
Construction Trades students from the 
Clare-Gladwin Career Center 
have renovated Verna's House to make
 it handicapped accessible for the
 Clare-Gladwin Area School students 
to use next school year. 

The Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation (LCEF) has awarded the Clare-Gladwin Area School the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant in the amount of $4,120 to create a garden at Verna’s House – the home located on the property of the John C. Magnus Center, owned by Clare-Gladwin RESD. The grant was secured by Vicki Longnecker, an Area School paraeducator and job coach.

Beginning in the fall of 2015, the school will be using Verna’s House for students to practice daily living skills such as cooking, cleaning, meal planning, and budgeting. The garden project will not only enhance the development of those skills, but it will also integrate elements of the Common Core Curriculum. Students will be using math and science to plot the layout of the garden and calculate the number of plants and seedlings needed. Students will also be researching various vegetables and the effects the weather pattern has on certain crops.

According to Longnecker, an additional benefit of the garden will be the opportunity to give back to the community. “The students will be donating some of the food from the garden to the local food pantries and will be inviting members of the local communities to help with the gardens,” she said. “Planting a garden, producing a crop, and sharing the rewards of their work with others will give these children a great sense of accomplishment. What better way is there to teach a sense of community while supporting independence than to grow your own food to share?”

The Clare-Gladwin Area School is a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD.

Renovations underway at Magnus Center

Renovations are underway at the Clare-Gladwin RESD’s John C. Magnus Center to address the need for better facilities to house the career and technical education (CTE) programs chosen by nearly 350 local high school juniors and seniors annually. Phase one of the project is scheduled for completion in May 2015..

Formerly home to Magnus Tractor Sales, the majority of the property’s nearly 25-acres was donated to the RESD in the spring of 2013 by the family of the late John C. Magnus and contains multiple outbuildings, a barn, and a house. The RESD began working with architectural and engineering firms last fall to determine a master plan for the space to be carried out in stages as funding is secured.

During the 2013-2014 school year, two outbuildings were removed and students in the CTE Construction Trades program prepped the property for the upcoming renovations, as well as remodeled the house to make it handicapped accessible for Clare-Gladwin Area School students to use in the future to practice life skills.

Earlier this summer, Clare-Gladwin RESD accepted the lowest bid from Bolle Contracting in Clare, and the demolition of old foundations and the back portion of the main building is currently in progress. Several beams and a portion of the barn floor will be replaced this fall, along with the construction of a new driveway to better fit school busses and emergency vehicles. To accommodate future development, a new septic field will be put in and further excavation will take place. Technology wiring will be installed and the new learning lab and classroom for the Health Occupations program will occupy the renovated front portion of the property’s main building. The $100,000 grant awarded to the RESD last year by the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland will help fund this phase of the expansion.

According to Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler, all of the project’s contractors have agreed to let the CTE Construction Trades students work side-by-side with them on various tasks, such as building new stud walls. “This is a real-world learning opportunity for our students,” said Presler. “We are grateful these companies recognize the value of vocational education and are willing to help shape the future workforce of their industry.” Approximately $15,000 will be saved by having the students’ assistance.

Clare-Gladwin RESD granted $100,000 from Gerstacker Foundation

Clare-Gladwin RESD was recently granted $100,000 from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland to help fund the renovation of existing buildings at the John C. Magnus Center.  When construction is complete, some of the career and technical education (CTE) programs offered to local high school juniors and seniors by the RESD’s Career Center will move to the Magnus Center.   

Located at 3200 S. Clare Ave., the John C. Magnus Center was established in October 2013. Formerly home to Magnus Tractor Sales, the majority of the property’s nearly 25-acres was donated to the RESD in the spring of 2013 by John’s wife, Verna Magnus Green, and their children, Lt. Col. Mike Magnus, Darla Schmittner, and Michelle Maeder. The land contains multiple outbuildings, a barn, and a house.

With plans to eventually use the property to improve and expand learning opportunities for local youth through all of the organization’s student programs, the RESD is currently working with architectural and engineering firms to determine a master plan to be completed in phases as funding is secured. 

“As Michigan is beginning to experience a resurgence in the trades, CGRESD is committed to providing an appropriate learning space for CTE students,” said Clare-Gladwin RESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler. “The space doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be safe and functional for practical experiences using the latest technology, engineering and mathematics.”

After floor plans are confirmed and approved by the state, the hope is the Construction Trades students will learn and work alongside the hired contractors for the project. 

 “A fully functional skilled trades training center has the potential to positively impact not only students, but families and communities for generations,” said Presler. “On behalf of CGRESD, its Board of Education, and all the high school students who will benefit from the Magnus Center, I would like to thank the Gerstacker Foundation for recognizing the importance of the Magnus Center project with such a generous grant.”

To learn more about Clare-Gladwin RESD, visit www.cgresd.net. 

50 years and growing; RESD establishes John C. Magnus Center and celebrates Golden Anniversary

More than 110 people gathered on Saturday, Oct. 5, to celebrate the John C. Magnus Center Dedication and the Clare-Gladwin RESD Golden Jubilee. The event recognized the RESD’s 50 years of service to Clare and Gladwin counties, and named the nearly 25 acres of land recently acquired by Clare-Gladwin RESD in memory of John C. Magnus, the property’s former owner.

Previously home to Magnus Tractor sales, the majority of the acreage was donated to the RESD earlier this year by John’s wife, Verna Magnus Green, and their children, Lt. Col. Mike Magnus, Darla Schmittner, and Michelle Maeder. The property will be used to improve and expand learning opportunities for local youth through Clare-Gladwin RESD’s student programs, including career and technical education as well as special education.   

The land contains multiple outbuildings, a barn, and a house - many of which will be used to further the students’ skills.

Students in the Clare-Gladwin Career Center’s Construction Trades program have already been busy this fall cleaning up the grounds and preparing to make the home handicapped accessible for future use by Clare-Gladwin Area School students.  “The improvements that have already taken place have been exciting – and it is only the beginning,” said Verna. 

Succeeding an invocation performed by Rev. Karen Blatt, the dedication ceremony included an historical overview of Magnus Tractor Sales and Clare-Gladwin RESD.  Superintendent Sheryl Presler also shared the journey that merged the two entities. “John’s family felt he would approve of the facilities being used to teach the trades to young people,” she said. “Some kids learn best with their hands. The trades offer a purpose for learning math and English, a chance to work with others on projects, and an opportunity to learn there are rewards from a hard day’s work. There’s honor and dignity being employed in the trades and I don’t think John would want anyone to ever forget that.”  

Remarks by members of the Magnus family reinforced the significance of the property’s past and the benefits it will bring to the community in the future.

“My married life with John revolved around this business. The buildings and grounds hold so many memories,” said Verna. “John would be pleased to know that it will be used for those in need for many years to come.”

Following the program, attendants gathered around the property’s barn to witness the ribbon-cutting that revealed the sign that now identifies the location as the John C. Magnus Center. 

“I want to especially thank Verna, Mike, Darla, and Michelle for their generosity,” said Presler. “Also, thank you to the former and current CGRESD staff, students, administrators, and board members for your energy and dedication to the last 50 years and as we grow in the future.” 

To see more photos from the event, click here. 

To watch the sign reveal video, click here.