Interlochen Center for the Arts and Traverse City Area Public Schools reach resolution on future of the Interlochen Community School
Interlochen has begun reenvisioning and revitalizing the Interlochen Community School property to serve the community in alignment with its strategic plan.
Following a mutually agreeable settlement between Interlochen Center for the Arts and Traverse City Area Public Schools, TCAPS dismissed its appeal of the Grand Traverse County Circuit Court’s August 27 ruling that ownership of the Interlochen Community School revert back to Interlochen. Representatives from TCAPS and Interlochen collaborated on the resolution, which acknowledges Interlochen as the owner of the property and school.
“Interlochen supports a strong public school system in our region under TCAPS leadership, and we share a commitment to enriching the greater Traverse City area,” said Interlochen Center for the Arts President Trey Devey. “ The amicable resolution of this case allows Interlochen to move forward with plans for restoring this community asset, and partnering with TCAPS to benefit area residents and families.”
“While we exist to educate, TCAPS imprint extends far beyond the classroom,” TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner commented. “We appreciate the collaboration with the Interlochen team and our community stakeholders to ensure all future decisions align with the needs of our students and community as a whole.”
As part of the agreement, Interlochen will not use the former Interlochen Community School building to operate as a charter or public school through the 2028-29 school year. Interlochen also reiterated its commitment to revitalizing the facility through alternative plans that benefit the community, such as early education and after-school programs, classes for Interlochen students, civic services and events, and other uses consistent with Interlochen’s strategic plan. Following the 2028-2029 school year, Interlochen would offer TCAPS the right of first refusal to operate a public school on the property before sponsoring or operating a charter or public school at the location.
Since resuming ownership of the Interlochen Community School last summer, Interlochen took over the maintenance and security of the building and coordinated such short-term projects as Michigan State Police Canine training, Fire Department training, community recreational activities, and film shoots by Interlochen Arts Academy Film & New Media students. With the property no longer subject to ongoing litigation, Interlochen plans to headquarter its revamped summer day camp for community children at the school this summer. The Arts Discovery Day Camp gives local children ages 7-12 the chance to experience the magic of an Interlochen summer at a reduced cost, with flexible one-week sessions offered between June 20 and Aug. 5.
Interlochen has also begun exploring the feasibility of utilizing part of the Interlochen Community School property for a much-needed daycare. Other initiatives under consideration include after-school extracurricular arts programs for Traverse City-area children, early education programs, joint programming with the Interlochen Public Library, and arts classes for adults through Interlochen College of Creative Arts.
The settlement also enumerates that Interlochen and TCAPS will continue to seek opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration. For example, both organizations will regularly review idle assets that may be of use to one another, such as Kresge Auditorium during graduation season and bus availability during the summer. TCAPS will engage with Interlochen area community leaders as part of its upcoming strategic planning process, and partner with Interlochen to raise awareness of summer employment opportunities as well as camp opportunities (both day and residential programs) to TCAPs students.
Interlochen’s investment in the surrounding community builds on its growing engagement with the broader Traverse City area. Recent initiatives include free performances and education guides for local students and growing partnerships with Parallel 45 Theatre and City Opera House. Interlochen’s sustainability team hosts educational garden tours for local students and is partnering with Westwoods Elementary School to install a new hoop house. Interlochen also co-funds the position of a community police officer to help keep Green Lake Township safe, and donates 50 percent of the farm-fresh organic produce harvested on the Interlochen campus to the local food pantry at Redeemer Lutheran Church of Interlochen.
TCAPS Board of Education contracted with Northwest Education Services to develop a three-year strategic plan. Insight from students, staff, parents and community stakeholders will develop the district’s initiatives, including a focus on academic offerings, student and staff wellbeing, and district facilities.
