Matt Olson is Assistant Superintendent of the Traverse Bay Intermediate School District for Professional Learning and Innovation. He informed us of the Regional Special Education Millage on the November ballot.
Northwest Education Services is the intermediate school district for Antrim, Benzie, Grand Travese, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties. It supports local school districts and public school acadamies with Special Education services that must be provided from birth through age 26. The current 2-mill levy supports roughly 3,000 students in the five-county service area.
As detailed in Matt's PowerPoint presentation, North Ed proposes a Restoration Millage of 0.5-mill for 10 years (2023-32). This would allow North Ed to maintain the existing 2-mill rate, which generates $27.5 million to serve Special Ed students within the five-county area. Thus, taxpayers would not see the levied millage rate go above 2 mills. To pass, the proposal requires approval from the majority of all voters in the ISD.
If passed the millage would support not only 3,000 Special Ed students, but also other students and communities with respect to unfunded SE costs that would fall on the local districts.
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