Highlighting the Community in Dexter Community Schools

Written by Hope Vestergaard, Dexter Community Schools

The city of Dexter spans just 2 square miles, while the larger Dexter community, represented by our school district, covers more than 80 square miles. This vibrant community is home to active citizens who prioritize recreation and wellness. Over the years, Dexter Community Schools (DCS) has frequently been asked to provide a recreational center to meet the community's needs. As the largest local public entity and the only one equipped with the experience and infrastructure to manage such an enterprise, DCS has a unique role to play.

In 2023, the Dexter Senior Center was searching for a new home. At the same time, 5HF and DCS had been exploring opportunities to meet the expanding wellness needs of the community in new and creative ways. Dexter Alternative School students had already been attending classes at the Dexter Wellness Center, and the District hoped to expand wellness offerings for students. The convergence of these three needs—the Senior Center, the Wellness Center, and DCS students—created a rare and timely

Seizing this opportunity, the District applied for state and federal funding to build or acquire a multigenerational community center.

On April 26, 2024, Dexter Community Schools completed the purchase of the Dexter Wellness Center from the 5 Healthy Towns Foundation. This purchase was made possible by funds received in 2023 as part of an $8.5 million state appropriation, along with an $850,000 federal Community Project Funding Grant secured by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. The funding was the result of the dedicated collaboration of local elected officials, including Congresswoman Dingell, Senator Sue Shink, Representative Jennifer Conlin, and Representative Carrie Rheingans.

The acquisition of the Wellness Center is part of a broader initiative to create a permanent home for the Dexter Senior Center, transforming the space into a Multigenerational Community Center that will serve the entire community. Additionally, the Dexter Senior Center has secured $750,000 in funding from Washtenaw County to build and furnish its new permanent home adjacent to the Wellness Center. Construction on the senior center began in early summer 2024, and the center will open this spring.

DCS Superintendent Chris Timmis emphasizes the significance of the project, stating, “This initiative is a true collaboration between the Wellness Center, Senior Center, DCS staff, and Michigan lawmakers. It highlights that Dexter is truly a community school district. Our seniors deserve a modern, functional facility, and the entire community will continue to benefit from the Wellness Center's offerings.”