FLINT, MI – The Michigan School for the Deaf will soon issue requests for proposals to build a new, $40-million dormitory on the Flint campus.
The new dormitory will replace the current dorms, which were built in 1948, according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Education.
The school is a residential Deaf and hard of hearing program operated by MDE. It currently educates 108 students from around the state. More than 40 live on campus from Sunday through Thursday.
“A new dormitory will celebrate Deaf culture and serve as a true home away from home for students,” said State Superintendent Dr. Michael F. Rice. “This new facility will support the academic success and cultural identity of students and will help with several goals in Michigan’s Top 10 Strategic Education Plan.”
The new dormitory will feature deaf-friendly features and amenities, like visual alerts, accessible furniture and appliances and architectural modifications, according to the release.
Funds for the new dormitory were appropriated by the state legislature after the state conducted a comprehensive dormitory study during the 2022-23 school year, according to the release.
“It’s exciting to have a new dormitory,” said Lawson McNally, president of the Michigan Deaf Association. “The dormitory will support our Deaf children’s future, socially, physically, intellectually, communicatively, and emotionally, since many Deaf children do not have communication at home. Social skills are a kind of second language, a specific code of behavior to be used when interacting with other people.”
Students who live outside of Genesee County can live on campus during the academic week to access deaf culture and a language-rich environment through American Sign Language, according to the release.
“This commitment from the state reinforces the belief that Michigan wants to continue to invest in the growth of Deaf and hard-of hearing-students, and that the Michigan School for the Deaf is a vital component in that belief,” Principal Rex Vernon said in a statement.
Funds for the project will flow through the Genesee Intermediate School District and Michigan Department of Technology, Management, & Budget, according to the release.
“We are pleased to work with MDE and DTMB to provide an amazing opportunity for students attending the Michigan School for the Deaf right here in Flint,” Stephen Tunnicliff, superintendent of the Genesee Intermediate School District, said in a statement.