Engadine Consolidated Schools has been awarded an $8.15 million infrastructure grant from the Michigan Department of Education, providing a major investment in the district’s aging facilities without placing an additional burden on local taxpayers.
The district received the funds through the state’s competitive infrastructure grant program. Engadine was one of just 31 school districts statewide and only two in the Upper Peninsula selected to receive funding from the $224 million initiative.
The grant will fund critical building improvements, including roof replacement, HVAC upgrades, electrical improvements and other infrastructure projects designed to improve the learning environment for students and staff.
Outgoing Superintendent Andrew Alvesteffer called the award a transformative moment for the district.
“As a rurally isolated school district with limited ability to raise funds for much-needed repairs, this grant will be a game changer for the Engadine Eagle community,” Alvesteffer said. “This funding is an investment in the future and viability of our district, and we’re grateful the Michigan Department of Education recognized the value of our small Yooper school.”
Board of Education President Daryl Schroeder said the district spent months developing the application and evaluating the school’s most pressing facility needs with the assistance of a community committee.
“This funding will help us modernize a building that first opened in 1936,” Schroeder said. “Our families, farmers and taxpayers have worked hard to support this school for generations, and this grant provides meaningful relief while allowing us to preserve and improve our school for future generations.”
Incoming Superintendent Heather Luoto said the funding allows the district to tackle long-delayed infrastructure needs while preserving classroom resources.
“This grant will allow us to improve the safety, comfort and efficiency of our building without dipping into our general fund,” Luoto said. “It also allows us to preserve the historic portion of our school by updating and modernizing its systems, ensuring it can continue serving students and the community for years to come.”
State Rep. Dave Prestin, who visited the school during the grant application process, said the funding will make a lasting difference.
“For too long, aging roofs, outdated HVAC systems and deteriorating infrastructure have stood in the way of learning in some Upper Peninsula schools,” Prestin said. “Students and teachers deserve safe environments where they can thrive, and I’m proud to support investments that strengthen our schools.”
According to the Michigan Department of Education, school districts across Michigan requested nearly $1.8 billion in infrastructure funding, but available dollars were sufficient to fund only about of the requests submitted.
District officials emphasized that the award is a one-time infrastructure grant dedicated to facility improvements and does not provide ongoing operational funding. Planning for the projects will begin in the coming months, with updates to be shared as construction timelines are finalized.
The improvements are expected to extend the life of the district’s facilities while creating safer, more efficient learning spaces for students, staff and the Engadine community.
