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School Consolidation Grants Awarded to Support 13 Projects Statewide

September 26, 2014

LANSING – Twelve school districts will receive $4.3 million to help defray costs in their efforts to consolidate districts and services, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced today.

The state funds for the School Consolidation Grants, initiated and approved by the Michigan Legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder, provided competitive grants to 15 total districts. Three grants were awarded in the first round, earlier in the year.

"To help increase efficiencies across the state, the grants support an effective and important ongoing strategy of consolidating districts where it makes sense, and streamlining their services and operations in other cases," said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan. "These will help maintain or improve district finances and operations."

This second round of funding was available through a budget supplemental that allowed projects consolidating administrative services or operations.

The MDE reviewed, rated and rewarded what was available to applications that demonstrated the most efficient and effective impact of consolidation efforts.

One district, Ann Arbor Public Schools, is getting $1.4 million to help pay for its planned annexation with Whitmore Lake Schools.

Eleven remaining districts receiving grant funds are consolidating services or operations.

Receiving grants in the first round were: North Huron Schools; Marshall Public Schools; and Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District.

Below is the complete list of recipients in this latest round of consolidation grants:

School District/ISD

Award Amount

Type of
Consolidation

Ann Arbor Public Schools

$1,405,064

Complete Consolidation of Ann Arbor Public Schools and Whitmore Lake Public Schools

Calhoun ISD

$945,454

Tech support staff, State data reporting, data warehousing system

Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD

$49,188

Shared internet services, data center, tech services

Coopersville Area Public School District

$198,337

Financial services, Special education director and services

Eastern Upper Peninsula ISD

$310,950

Student Information, Student Achievement Data, Financial Information, and Teacher Evaluation systems

Fowler Public Schools

$8,850

Business services

Imlay City Community Schools

$27,500

Transportation services, facilities maintenance services

Ingham ISD (1)

$194,342

Shared academic student data

Ingham ISD (2)

$282,000

Transportation services

Kalamazoo RESA

$82,064

Technology, Business services

Lapeer ISD

$11,006

Payroll system/services

Saugatuck Public Schools

$27,052

Food services

Wexford-Missaukee ISD

$760,000

Tech services/support