Clare-Gladwin Regional Education Service District (CGRESD) broke ground Friday, April 5, 2024, on the new 31,094-square-foot Career and Technical Education (CTE) building, which is expected to open in the fall of 2025. The new Career Education Center, funded by a $15 million grant from the State of Michigan's Labor and Economic Opportunity Department (LEO), will be located at 3200 S. Clare Avenue on the Magnus Center campus in Clare.
CTE Director Eric Johnson expressed gratitude for the collaborative effort that made this milestone possible, acknowledging key community partners, including the Magnus family, local school districts, legislative representatives, post-secondary institutions, work-based learning partners, CTE staff and students, all of whom played integral roles in bringing this vision to life.
With the groundbreaking ceremony marking a pivotal moment for the community, CGRESD Superintendent Tara Mager remarked, "What we're witnessing is not just an expansion of facilities but the growth of our community's potential. Together, we're establishing a new educational standard that aligns with our evolving economy, empowering students to navigate and lead the future."
The new Career Education Center funding represents a significant leap forward, enabling substantial upgrades and additional resources to junior and senior high school students from the Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison districts.
With a career dedicated to education, retired Harrison Superintendent Tom House, known for his strong advocacy for CTE, addressed the audience by sharing his perspective on the program. "CTE has consistently held importance across the five districts," House said. "For many students, it was the highlight of their school day, instilling pride and equipping them with valuable skills for future employment."
The new facility will provide students access to advanced technology, modern labs and industry-standard equipment. Expansion at the Magnus Center will include:
• 6500 sq. ft conference center for career exploration, events, job fairs, presentations and local district/non-profit use
• Cutting-edge kitchen lab for Culinary Arts education to host events for up to 300 within the conference center
• Health Occupation Lab with simulation learning lab and pharmaceutical technical training facility
• Digital Media production studio and lab offering hands-on experience in audio, video, animation and video game design
• Education Occupations classroom upgraded to emulate a high-efficiency learning environment
• Criminal Justice training facility tailored for physical training, crime scene investigation and hosting student leadership events
• Agricultural Science classroom expanded for additional lab space to accommodate maple syrup bottling and horticulture storage and displays
• Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology relocated to Magnus Center to enhance student opportunities with semi-trucks, industrial equipment, and agricultural machinery
• Construction Trades moved to a new 11,985-square-foot building adjacent to a permanent home-building pad
The Magnus Center is a testament to John C. Magnus and his family's dedication to local students. Their generous land donation has left a "legacy set in stone" that continues to flourish today, benefiting countless students and paving the way for a brighter future.
Sharing the Magnus family's historical origins and the Magnus Center's inception in 2013, Sheryl Presler, retired CGRESD Superintendent, reflects on the impact of CTE and underlines the critical role of community support.
"The Career Education Center has been built on a strong foundation of support from community members who value the skilled trades, real-life experience for our young people, and a hard day's work," said Presler. "Many of the opportunities that are available to high school juniors and seniors through CTE are a result of the vocational millage passed in 2016. The financial backing of local districts has been the rock on which new and improved CTE programs have been built, and as the former Superintendent at Clare-Gladwin RESD, I am so grateful."
With a projected completion date of August 2025, the Career Education Center is not merely about erecting buildings but building brighter futures.