Copper Country voters will decide in May whether to continue funding career and technical education programs that have served students across three counties since 2014.
The Copper Country Intermediate School District will request renewal of a millage supporting CTE programs. The ballot will ask voters to approve a 0.9797-mill levy to fund career and technical education in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties for another decade.
Voters first approved a one-mill rate ten years ago to support technical education. Since then, CTE has expanded program options, added college credit opportunities and improved access for Baraga County students.
Copper Country CTE Director Corey Soumis explained that students have taken the skills they’ve developed in the programs into their futures. Some students have gone on to start businesses after graduation, others use the programs to advance their college careers. Some programs also allow students to graduate with certificates, helping students advance early in several trades and healthcare.
“Other programs like in CTE Business we have had students go on to open their own businesses. For example a landscaping company that was started by a Calumet student,” said Corey Soumis, director of CTE programs for CCISD. “We have other students, like my own daughter, who have gone dual enrollment. Where they’re earning credit through KBOCC. So the advantage is, it’s a leg up.”
In all Copper Country CTE operates eight programs at locations in Houghton and Baraga County; Welding/Manufacturing, Business/Entrepreneurship, Education, Automotive Technology, Certified Nursing Assistant, Health Occupations, Construction Technology, and Engineering Design. For several years enrollment in the programs has steadily increased, with the programs now enrolling more than 350 students.
When the programs were first established students from Baraga and Keweenaw counties needed to travel much further to attend courses. In Baraga County CTE has partnered with the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College for dual enrollment in healthcare and nursing programs. CTE has also found locations in L’Anse to set up classroom space.
The CTE millage renewal for 0.9797 mills will be the only item on May ballots for Keweenaw County residents. It will also appear as the only measure for most of Houghton and Baraga County residents.
In Baraga County, Baraga Township voter will consider also consider a sinking fund millage for Baraga Area Schools for 3 mills that would be collected over 10 years to support repairs and infrastructure.
In Houghton County, Duncan Township and Torch Lake Township voters will consider ballot measures for respective school districts. In Duncan Township the Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated School District requests a bond millage that will raise $6.1 million over 12 years with a 1.5 mill rate. The Ewen-Trout Creek Consolidated School District bond millage was passed by voters in Ontonagon County at the November election in 2025. The Dollar Bay – Tamarack City School District will ask voters in Torch Lake Township to consider renewing the 18 mill rate to the district’s operating millage over eight years.
Information about CTE programs in the Keweenaw Peninsula is available online. Find more information on the May consolidated election in Michigan here. Learn more about voting and elections by going to the Michigan Voter Information Center, find more information here.
