Momentous Groundbreaking Gathering at Magnus Center

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Staff Writer

HARRISON – The long-awaited official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Career Education Center building at the Clare-Gladwin RESD’s Magnus Center location took place April 5. While fair weather has already led to a start on excavation, the ceremony was no less welcome or auspicious, as it was attended by supporters who have been onboard with the project since its inception. In May of 2018, the Wilhelm Joseph Magnus Building for Skilled Trades Learning was dedicated. And now, that story of Career and Technical Education continues, evolving with this latest expansion, bringing to fruition the long-held vision for providing such educational benefits for students from Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin and Harrison.

The Career Education Center’s commitment to advancing vocational education is stated as being in line with the state’s goal of increasing the percentage of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 50.5% to 60% by 2030.

Literature available at the event states that this new expansion will include:

-A 6,500 square-foot conference center for career exploration, events, job fairs, presentations and local district/non-profit use.

-A cutting-edge kitchen lab for Culinary Arts education, and a student events venue accommodating 300 attendees.

-A Health Occupations Lab featuring a simulation learning lab and pharmaceutical technical training facility.

-A Digital Media production studio and lab offering hands-on experience in audio, video, animation and video game design.

-An upgraded Education Occupations classroom that emulates a high-efficiency learning environment.

-A Criminal Justice training facility developed in partnership with local law enforcement and the Michigan State Police which will offer physical training, crime scene investigation, and will host student leadership events.

-Enlarged Agricultural Science classroom and lab space, enabling expansion of maple syrup bottling and horticultural storage/displays.

-Relocation of Diesel and Heavy Equipment technology to the existing Construction Trades lab, offering more opportunities for students to work on semi-trucks, industrial equipment, agricultural machinery and other diesel engines. The space also will be used for college and adult learning classes.

-Construction Trades will be moved to the new building, west of the Magnus B building. It will feature new classroom and lab spaces, situated next to a permanent modular home building pad.

All these elements were enthusiastically described – along with the history of the Magnus Family property, its donation to the RESD, the institution of the CTE millage support, development and future impact – by the current CTE Director Eric Johnson, CGRESD Superintendent Tara Mager, retired Superintendent Tom House, and retired CGRESD Superintendent Sheryl Presler.

When each had spoken, and a vast number of grateful acknowledgements rendered, the indoor ceremony concluded and the taking of multi-group photos to mark the occasion began.

It’s another giant step forward in the race to match a skilled, capable workforce with the occupational needs of Michigan’s future – and the Clare-Gladwin RESD has definitely taken it.