From new programs and facilities to a worrisome lack of staff and space, there’s plenty for Grand Traverse County’s three largest school systems to be both excited and concerned about as we enter the 2024-25 school year.

The Ticker connected with leaders at Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS), Kingsley Area Schools and Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools (GTACS) to find out what’s on their mind as students head back to the classroom.

TCAPS (John VanWagoner, Superintendent) – Roughly 8,000 students

What’s new, different or exciting in your district for the 2024-25 school year?

For the 2024-25 school year, TCAPS is introducing several innovative programs and facilities to enhance student learning and experience. A significant addition that will be completed this winter is the new Innovation and Manufacturing Centers at both West and Central High Schools. These new centers will allow an expanded focus on STEM programming, including new STEM courses and increased opportunities for our FIRST Robotics team. These centers are designed to create hands-on learning opportunities, preparing students for careers in technology and engineering by engaging them in real-world problem-solving, and design challenges.

Additionally, the new Compass Learning Drop-in Center, housed in the Maverik Center on Three Mile Road, is being launched to support online and hybrid learning. This flexible space is designed to cater to students who thrive in a non-traditional learning environment, offering resources and support for those engaged in virtual education. It provides a unique blend of in-person guidance and online coursework, fostering independent study while ensuring students receive the help they need.

Another new initiative is the introduction of an elementary transportation student live GPS system to improve student safety and convenience. This system allows parents to track the real-time location of school buses, offering peace of mind and better coordination for pick-up and drop-off times. These innovations reflect the district's continued commitment to the safety and security of our students.

The successful passing of the capital bond in August is another exciting development, enabling the district to invest in critical infrastructure, technology, and transportation upgrades into the next decade. This bond will fund improvements across our schools, enhancing the learning environment, and ensuring TCAPS students have access to state-of-the-art facilities.

What are the biggest challenges your district faces as we start this year?

The district faces significant challenges, particularly in budgeting and staffing. A major concern is the drastic 98% reduction in state funding for mental health and school safety, alongside the expiration of federal COVID-19 ESSER funds. These cuts have created a financial strain for TCAPS by limiting resources that support the wellbeing of students and staff, including resources needed to secure learning environments across the district.

Additionally, the district is grappling with staffing shortages in limited areas, particularly in hiring new school bus drivers. TCAPS seeks drivers to join our team who can provide outstanding service to our students and families. 

Kingsley Schools (Josh Rothwell, Superintendent) – Roughly 1,500 students

What’s new, different or exciting in your district for the 2024-25 school year?

Kingsley High School is proud to launch northern Michigan’s first Naval Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corp. (NJROTC). The brand new program is the first program north of Flint and will be offered to all high school students as a daily elective class.

The NJROTC program offers a comprehensive four-year curriculum centered on naval science and leadership development. Students will explore topics like naval history, strategy, navigation, astronomy, meteorology, oceanography, marksmanship and engineering. These in-class experiences will be enriched by extracurricular activities that may include shooting practice, military site visits, ceremonies and field trips.

The curriculum also incorporates essential life skills such as personal fitness, financial literacy, college prep and mental health. The class will impart lessons applicable to every student, whether on a military trajectory or not. The class is not a recruiting program, but rather a class rooted in the core values of the Navy.

What are the biggest challenges your district faces as we start this year?

The biggest challenge at Kingsley this year is lack of space. We currently have just under 1,500 students enrolled and we are using every possible square foot of space in our buildings. This includes custodial areas, storage closets, and every other nook and cranny of space especially in our elementary and middle schools.

Kingsley recently contracted with a company to perform a facilities study to assess our needs and provide recommendations for improvements. We will be reaching out to our community very soon to gather input on future infrastructure improvements and additions to ensure we provide the most comfortable, effective learning space for our students. I'm excited to gather this input and hopefully move forward with an effective plan to solve this challenge. 

Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools (Michael Buell, Superintendent) – Roughly 1,100 students

What’s new, different or exciting in your district for the 2024-25 school year?

Two recent initiatives at GTACS are both centered upon the same thing: Helping students build their lives upon an unshakable foundation. 

For our youngest students (preschool and elementary ages), that’s being done through a program called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). In CGS, Jesus’ parables are presented in a specially prepared space called an Atrium. After each Scripture presentation,  the children are given quiet time and "work" that allows them to respond to God’s love for them. It's amazing to witness the wonder and awe naturally present in the children. This offering was new for us last year, and it was extremely well-received by students and their families. This year, we have chosen to expand the offering to additional grade levels.

New this year, our high school students will be able to take a beginning course in Philosophy and Ethics. This offering has become increasingly necessary as society and our faith become more incongruous. We need to develop future leaders who can process problems and organize their thoughts aside from their emotions. When Christian teachings collide with societal norms, our students will have developed a framework for reasoning and applying critical thinking skills to important questions or issues.

What are the biggest challenges your district faces as we start this year?

The biggest challenge for us is likely similar to that of other schools: Affordability. We were fortunate to hire many great new teachers this year, but it’s very challenging to meet their housing needs, their need for childcare, etc. As a parochial school, we continuously fundraise. Private donations help bolster our salary budget and sustain our financial aid fund so we can ensure access to an excellent Catholic education.