Ionia Public Schools

What Ionia Public Schools does

Ionia Public Schools is a public K-12 school district in Ionia County, Michigan, serving PK-12 students across nine schools: one traditional high school (Ionia High School, grades 9-12), one alternative high school (Douglas R. Welch High School, grades 6-12), one middle school (grades 6-8), five elementary schools (PK-5), and one virtual school (Douglas R. Welch Virtual School). The district also operates Bulldog Beginnings (a GSRP preschool at three locations) and the Bulldog Aquatic Center (a community pool and fitness facility). It is led by Superintendent Ben Gurk and governed by a seven-member elected Board of Education. Headcount is approximately 381 staff members across instruction, administration, food service, facilities, and transportation.

Revenue mechanics are public-sector and not for-profit: the district is funded primarily through voter-approved property tax levies (current 7.72 mills), Michigan Department of Education state aid, federal Title and ESSER III funding, and USDA meal-program reimbursement under the Community Eligibility Provision (which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students). The Bulldog Aquatic Center generates ancillary fee-based revenue through memberships, swim lessons, and facility rentals. A $84,500,000 Bond 2025 proposal is on the November 4, 2025 ballot for district-wide facility improvements, with a stated zero mill increase.

The district's technology stack is standard K-12 administrative and instructional infrastructure: PowerSchool as the student information system, NWEA MAP and DIBELS for assessment, Edgenuity and Michigan Virtual for online courses, and supplementary tools for payments (SendMoneyToSchool), bus tracking (BusRight), transcripts (Parchment), menus (Nutrislice), and staff training (Safeschools). Marketing and constituent communication is run through the district website (Finalsite), monthly IPS Excel newsletter, Facebook, Blackboard push notifications, and in-person events such as Coffee with Superintendent and Board of Education meetings. No AI/ML capabilities are documented.

Name

Ionia Public Schools

Legal name

Ionia Public Schools

Website

https://ioniaschools.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ionia Public Schools is a Michigan public K-12 school district serving PK-12 students across nine schools, plus preschool and a community aquatic center, funded by property taxes, state aid, and federal programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Public Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public School Districts (K–12) (EDADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public High Schools (EDAJAAAD), Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)

Keywords

• K-12 public education
• Elementary education
• Secondary education
• Special education services
• Preschool programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Ionia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue (Bond/Millage): Primary revenue source from voter-approved bond proposals and millage levies. Current levy of 7.72 mills for facilities improvements. Bond 2025 proposal of $84,500,000 for district-wide improvements with expected zero mill increase.
2. State and Federal Educational Funding: State Aid from Michigan Department of Education plus Federal Title programs (Title I, Title IIA, At-risk funding), ESSER III funds from American Rescue Plan, and Section 98c learning loss funds.
3. Food Service Program: USDA-funded meal programs. Serves 2000+ lunches and 1000+ breakfasts daily. Community Eligibility Provision provides free meals to all students. Revenue from USDA reimbursement and paid meals.
4. Community Programs: Bulldog Aquatic Center membership fees, pool rental, and swim lesson revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ionia Public Schools is a K-12 public school district that delivers free preschool-through-12th-grade education to district residents across nine campuses (one traditional high school, one alternative high school, one middle school, five elementary schools, plus a virtual school and GSRP preschool). The district also operates the Bulldog Aquatic Center (community pool with memberships, lessons, and rentals) and provides free USDA-funded breakfast and lunch to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision.

Product overview

Ionia Public Schools is a traditional school district offering a comprehensive PK-12 educational program across 8 schools, plus virtual learning options. The district operates one high school (9-12), one alternative high school (6-12), one middle school (6-8), five elementary schools (PK-5), and a virtual school program. The district also offers Bulldog Beginnings preschool program and maintains the Bulldog Aquatic Center as a community facility. A major Bond 2025 proposal aims to fund $84.5 million in facility improvements including a new 900-seat Performing Arts Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ionia High School: High school (grades 9-12) with mascot Bulldog
• Douglas R. Welch High School
• Ionia Middle School
• Boyce Elementary School
• Emerson Elementary School
• Jefferson Elementary School
• Rather Elementary School
• Twin Rivers Elementary School
• Douglas R. Welch Virtual School
• Bulldog Beginnings
• Bulldog Aquatic Center

Products and services

• Ionia Public Schools K-12 District Education Program Free comprehensive PK-12 public education program delivered across nine school campuses in Ionia County, Michigan, covering general education, special education, college and career preparation, athletics, arts, transportation, and food service for district-resident students.
• Douglas R. Welch Virtual School Online K-12 virtual learning program providing students with remote instructional pathways, leveraging Edgenuity and Michigan Virtual course providers.
• Bulldog Beginnings Preschool GSRP-funded preschool program providing early childhood education to qualifying families at Boyce, Emerson, and Ionia High School sites.
• Bulldog Aquatic Center Community pool and aquatic facility offering memberships, swim lessons, open swim, and pool rentals to district residents and the broader community.
• USDA Food Service Program USDA-funded school meal program providing free breakfast and lunch to all IPS students through the Community Eligibility Provision, plus a la carte items, summer Sun Meals To Go, and Family Portal Cloud meal account management.
• Schools of Choice Interdistrict Enrollment Interdistrict enrollment program under Michigan Schools of Choice allowing non-resident students to apply for admission to IPS schools based on district capacity and program availability.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free breakfast and lunch served to all students daily through Community Eligibility Provision
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Thrun LawmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Legal counsel for bond proposal. Provides legal guidance on bond structure, compliance, and election requirements for November 2025 bond proposal.
• PFM Financial AdvisorsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Financial advisory services for bond proposal. Helps structure bond financing and financial planning for $84.5 million proposal.
• GMB Architects + EngineersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Architecture and engineering firm providing facility assessments and design services for bond projects including schools and performing arts center.
• Owen-Ames-KimballmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Construction management firm engaged for bond project planning and construction oversight.
• EPIC MRAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Third-party research firm conducted scientific community survey to inform bond priorities and community engagement.
• StanFred ConsultantsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Consulting services for bond proposal development and community engagement.
• ESS/willSubcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Contracted provider of substitute teachers, aides, food service workers, coaches, and secretaries. Substitute applicants become employees of ESS/willSub.
• RedRover (Red Rover Online System)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Online applicant tracking and talent management system for job postings and applications across all employment categories.
• METS (Michigan Educational Transportation Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Third-party transportation service providing school bus drivers and aides for IPS transportation. Hiring and training provided for drivers at $20.95/hour and aides at $13.91/hour.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Federal nutrition program providing free meals to all students through Community Eligibility Provision and reimbursement for school meal programs.
• Michigan Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024State education agency providing oversight, funding, and compliance requirements including M-STEP assessments and state standards.
• Ionia County Health DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024County health agency providing health services coordination, immunizations, and health education support for district students.
• Ionia County Career Center (formerly Heartlands)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CTE (Career and Technical Education) partnership through Ionia ISD providing vocational training opportunities for IPS students.
• Ionia ISD (Intermediate School District)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024County-wide intermediate school district providing shared services, special education coordination, and educational programs.
• PowerSchoolcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Student Information System (SIS) platform used by teachers and administrators for grades, attendance, and student records management.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kalamazoo Public Schools: Michigan public K-12 district with a comparable mix of elementary, middle, alternative, and community programming. Useful peer for benchmarking CEP utilization, school-of-choice dynamics, and facility bond strategy.
• Holt Public Schools: Mid-size Michigan public school district operating a comparable portfolio of elementary, middle, and high schools with active capital improvement programs. Useful peer for facility, food service, and community program benchmarking.
• Grand Rapids Public Schools: Public K-12 school district in Michigan serving a similarly sized urban/suburban student population. Provides a useful scale and program-comparison benchmark for IPS, including magnet/alternative school structures and bond-funded modernization.
• Lansing School District: Mid-size Michigan public school district operating multiple school types, alternative education, and community programs. Comparable on portfolio complexity and reliance on state aid and federal funding streams.
• East Lansing Public Schools: Michigan public school district with similar K-12 programming footprint and bond-funded facility investments. Comparable on operating scale and educational modality breadth.

Regional players

• Lakewood Public Schools: Nearby Ionia County public school district with a comparable rural footprint and reliance on property tax millages. Similar scale and demographic exposure.
• Portland Public Schools (Michigan): Smaller Michigan public school district in Ionia County area with similar demographic and funding profile. Direct peer for small-town Michigan district economics and millage-driven capital planning.
• Saranac Community Schools: Small Ionia County public school district in immediate proximity to Ionia Public Schools. Direct regional competitor for resident and Schools of Choice enrollment.
• Greenville Public Schools: Adjacent Montcalm County public school district of similar size and rural profile. Comparable on school consolidation decisions, athletic conference dynamics, and community-based funding models.
• Belding Area Schools: Neighboring Ionia County public school district competing for the same Schools of Choice students. Useful direct regional competitor for enrollment share analysis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/IoniaPublic

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ionia Public Schools