The Beekman Center in Lansing was an entirely novel idea when it was built in the late 1960s, one that not only opened doors for Lansing-area students, but set the standard for special education in the United States, Superintendent of Ingham Intermediate School District Jason Mellema told East Lansing Info during a tour of the center.
On a snowy school day afternoon, through halls adorned with construction paper artwork and glitter glue creations, Mellema touted features of the Beekman Center that were ahead of their time when it first opened in the late 60s as the first center-based special education building in the country, but lamented the areas of the building that need updates after more than 50 years.
From enlarging doorframes and classrooms for students with mobility aids to creating more accessible bathrooms and outdoor spaces, Ingham Intermediate School District, or Ingham ISD, is seeking a nearly $100 million bond proposal to replace the Beekman Center and renovate Heartwood School in Mason, the special education buildings serving 12 area school districts, including East Lansing.
The bond proposal, which voters in Ingham County will decide on in a special election on May 5, would levy a property tax of 55 cents for each $1,000 of taxable value…