HARBOR SPRINGS — The Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District (Char-Em ISD) is offering a range of educational services to support local students, from preschool to beauty school.
At a recent meeting, the Harbor Springs Public Schools Board of Education received an update from Char-Em ISD. Superintendent Scott Koziol provided details about the district’s offerings, which serve 11 districts, five private schools, and two charter schools. A total of 1,500 students are enrolled in the district’s Career Technical Education programs.
One of the highlights this year is the new cosmetology program, hosted by Harbor Springs. Koziol expressed excitement over the program’s success, noting that it faced initial planning challenges but has now become an exciting addition to the district’s curriculum.
“We’re thrilled to see the cosmetology program up and running,” Koziol said.
During the meeting, Koziol was joined by Lauren Ringle, Char-Em ISD’s special education coordinator, and Jill Haan, director of Early Childhood. Both shared information about the services their departments offer and the collaborative efforts in place to support students.
Haan explained that the ISD provides early education services, including special education support for children from birth to age 3 through a program called “early on,” which includes home visits. For children ages 3-5, the ISD offers preschool classrooms with special education support.
For families that do not enroll their children in preschool, walk-in services are available, allowing children to interact with peers while receiving some special education assistance.
Ringle emphasized the strong collaboration between departments. The ISD also hires specialists such as occupational and physical therapists, school psychologists, and speech-language pathologists to meet the diverse needs of students.
“The goal is to ensure that services for students with disabilities are not limited by financial barriers,” Ringle said.
Char-Em ISD’s commitment extends beyond early education, with programs also available for students into adulthood at the Taylor School. The district’s efforts to support students with disabilities are made possible through funding, including a millage request approved by voters in May 2024.
Koziol explained that millage funds, combined with state reimbursements for special education services, allow the district to increase funding to 90%. This helps ensure that the financial cost of hiring necessary staff does not limit the services available to students.
“We don’t want finances to be a barrier to providing the services our students need,” Koziol added. “Our goal is to ensure that every child in Char-Em has access to the support they deserve.”
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