Michigan State Police inspectors meticulously review nearly 17,000 school buses around the state each year – one at a time - to ensure that children are being transported safely in vehicles that are well-maintained.

Safely transporting the children in its care is a responsibility that Char-Em ISD’s Transportation Department takes seriously – and it shows. The ISD has once again landed a 100% safety inspection rating from the MSP for this year’s inspection.

Each day, Char-Em transports about 125 special needs students to and from their homes to any of five different school sites via 24 buses. Those buses accumulate more than 600,000 miles per calendar year. 

Read the full media release about the 100% Safety Inspection Rating

In late November, amid the rush and anticipation of the holiday season, nearly 70 local educational professionals gathered to strategize about a new approach for school safety in the new year ahead. Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District administrators convened a local Threat Assessment Training, which featured national trainer Frank Zenere, a school psychologist and crisis management specialist for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Zenere has responded to dozens of crises, including the devastating Sandy Hook and Parkland school shootings.

“Char-Em ISD continues to respond to the needs of our 11 local public school districts and to help them in every way we can,” said Jeff Crouse, Char-Em ISD Superintendent. “School safety continues to be of paramount concern."

Ben Hicks, Char-Em ISD’s Director of Special Education, coordinated the training.

Read the complete article about the Threat Assessment Training

TEACHER’S ASSISTANT: Char-Em ISD is looking to hire a Special Education Teacher's Assistant to work within our programs. An Associate's degree or higher is preferred, as is demonstrated ability to work with students of varying developmental levels. Please review the complete job description, including instructions for applying

SYSTEM ENGINEER: The ideal candidate will have at least an Associate's degree in computer science, open systems technology, information systems or similar; three years of work experience providing technical assistance and support in a service environment preferred. Complete job description and instructions for applying

If your child loved College for Kids, they'll love what's coming this June for this popular three-day, day camp! If your child has not participated in this awesome exploration camp, we will be excited to welcome them in 2019! This camp is for students in grades 2-8. Online registration begins in mid-April. Stay tuned for exciting new details, and for now - mark your calendars!

Since Spring of 2017, Char-Em ISD Early Childhood staff have partnered with the Petoskey Robotics team, the Paladins, to create customized, motorized vehicles for young children with mobility challenges. This year's build took place on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, at Petoskey High School and involved creating a new car for a growing boy!

Martin “Mart” Korte is a 4-year-old boy from Pellston who attends the Patricia A. Taylor School for Exceptional Learners in Petoskey. He first received custom wheels last year through GoBabyGo! As he continues to grow, the ISD and Robotics team have committed to helping him sustain his mobility.

Mart's physical challenges are due to a genetic condition known as CDKL5, resulting in visual and neurological impairments.

"This is our fourth vehicle built with the Petoskey Paladins, and the work sessions are running very smoothly,” said Nicole Lindwall, Char-Em ISD Early On Coordinator. 

Read the full article about the Dec. 2018 GoBabyGo! build

The Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District will receive $45,987 in grant funds from the Michigan State Police for facility security upgrades. The security upgrades will be made at the Patricia A. Taylor School for Exceptional Learners and Crooked Tree High School specifically, and will include buzzer systems, safety glass film and door barricades. The grant is part of $25 million awarded by the MSP to districts around the state. Learn more about the security upgrade plans

Precious cargo aboard! Char-Em ISD is looking for substitute bus drivers and riders/aides for our multiple bus routes to and from Char-Em programs. Flexible hours and days mean you choose when you can provide coverage of routes. Char-Em pays for all required driver training (written testing and on-road testing), so experience is not necessary. Experience working with special needs children is not required, but is helpful, as is a compassionate personality. Because of the wide geographical area covered by Char-Em, we pay you from when you leave the house to get to your assigned transportation route each day that you work. Routes may be in Charlevoix, Emmet and northern Antrim counties. Those interested may also start as (paid) aides rather than driver, to see if the job is a good fit.