Clare-Gladwin RESD offers CMU poverty simulation to local eduators

As part of a recent professional development opportunity offered by Clare-Gladwin RESD, educators from local school districts participated in a poverty simulation provided by Central Michigan University (CMU).

With the help of trained staff and volunteers from CMU conducting and facilitating the workshop, the 2.5 hour experience took place at Coleman Community Schools and was designed to sensitize participants to the realities low-income people face on a daily and monthly basis. 

In the simulation, participants assumed the roles of different “families” facing poverty with varying circumstances. “Participants experienced four 15-minute weeks with five-minute weekends as they worked through their month of poverty and tried to accomplish their objectives - feeding their family, paying their bills on time, maintaining housing, and maintaining safety,” said Clare-Gladwin RESD Assistant Superintendent for General Education Deb Snyder. “The simulation was conducted in the gymnasium with ‘families’ seated in groups in the center of the room. Around the perimeter of the room were tables representing community resources and services for the families.”

Snyder thanked CMU and its staff for their work in providing the simulation to the region’s educators for the second time this year.

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.

Local families invited to 2nd annual 'Day of Play'

Children and their families are encouraged to run, dance, skate, create, and explore at the second annual Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 26 from 4 - 7 p.m. on the shared campus of the Isabella Community Sportsplex and the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum.  

Organized by the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum with help from representatives from the Clare-Gladwin and Gratiot-Isabella Great Start Collaboratives, EightCap, the ICE Arena, Morey Courts, MidMichigan Health, My104.3 WCZY, Staples, and MSU Extension, the Worldwide Day of Play will feature free activities for parents and kids to enjoy together, including ice skating with free rentals, and hands-on fun at the museum. Morey Courts will use a portion of their facilities to host family recreation opportunities. A multitude of community partners and local public service agencies will also be in attendance to share in the night’s activities.

Emulating Nickelodeon’s annual Worldwide Day of Play which shuts down television programming for a day to encourage kids to get off the couch and get active, the September evening of action will emphasize the many benefits that play provides in the lives of children.

“Play changes kids’ lives,” said Jennifer Fields, co-founder of the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum. “It inspires parents and educators and can transform communities. So come out and play!”

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 Area School students 'Craft for a Cure'

The Clare-Gladwin Area School has partnered with the international non-profit charity Crafting for a Cure to help package craft-kits and create greeting cards for local children to use when at a hospital, offering them a fun and artistic distraction to help pass the time. The kits and cards will be made through product donations and will be available this fall in emergency rooms, clinic treatment rooms, and operating waiting rooms serving families from Clare and Gladwin counties.    

In early August, the organization’s founder and president, Pamela Bielak, traveled from Canada to the Area School to launch the partnership. Bielak brought the supplies needed to assemble approximately 1,000 craft kits valued at five dollars each. The kits will include a variety of materials such as glue sticks, crayons, magnetic picture frames, yarn, and pipe cleaners. Students in each classroom will be able to assist in packing the kits, constructing the greeting cards, or both.

“This collaboration is a wonderful project for the entire school to work on together,” said Linda Bennett, the Area School teacher who initiated the partnership. “Plus, it gives our students the chance to give back to our local communities.”  

Originating in Canada, Crafting for a Cure looks for opportunities to ensure children have a positive experience when a hospital visit is necessary. According to Bielak, while Crafting for a Cure has partnered with and benefited nearly 100 hospitals and schools around the world, the Clare-Gladwin Area School is the first school in the United States to help the charity pursue its mission. “It is our goal to make all children smile,” said Bielak. “We are excited to work with our first school in the United States and I think the Area School is the perfect fit.”

To learn how to donate, call the Area School at 989-386-3682.

For more information on Crafting for a Care, visit www.craftingforacure.ca.

Crafting for a Cure Founder Pamela Bielak recently delivered craft supplies for the Area School students to create craft kits and greeting cards for local hospital patients. From the left, Bielak, Area School Principal Mike Simon, Area School Teacher Linda Bennett, and Crafting for a Cure volunteers Daniel and Karen.