rural towns. What unites them is that we meet each student where they are.” That philosophy—rooted in personalization and choice—has transformed Berrien Springs from a struggling small-town district into one of Michigan’s fastest-growing educational success stories, with enrollment skyrocketing by 212 percent over the past two decades. FROM STRUGGLE TO SUCCESS Sixteen years ago, Berrien Springs faced an uncertain future. Budget shortfalls and declining enrollment threatened the district’s viability—until thenSuperintendent Jim Bermingham proposed a radical shift: rather than cutting programs, the district would expand opportunity. Working alongside the Michigan Department of Education, Bermingham launched a network of alternative and virtual learning centers. The model flourished.Today, BSPS serves around 2,000 students on campus and an additional 5,000 learners across 28 offsite centers statewide, including three in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. “We’re one-third traditional district and two-thirds innovative choice educational programs,” explains Chief Strategy Officer Mitch Cumings.“We don’t just operate schools—we operate pathways for students who need something different to succeed.” These centers now graduate more than 1,200 students each year, each ceremony packed with families whose applause and tears reflect what the program means to them.“Every graduation is electric,” Cumings says. “You see pride, joy, and hope on full display—it’s the purest expression of community.” COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT POWER OPPORTUNITY At the heart of Berrien Springs’ success is a deep commitment to partnership—not just with families, but with local school districts, employers, and community organizations across Michigan. The district operates three divisions of offsite learning, each tailored to the needs of the communities it serves. The Linked Learning division, for example, 187 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 12 BERRIEN SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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