Beekman & Heartwood

Beekman Center and Heartwood School

Beekman Center and Heartwood School serve students in the Ingham ISD service area who qualify for services under the categories of moderate and severe cognitive impairments, severe multiple impairments, and autism spectrum disorders. Staff collaborate with local school districts and families to offer center-based programs and services tailored to each student's needs, as determined by the IEP process. Enrollment at Beekman Center and Heartwood School requires local district involvement and cannot be done independently. Students attending range in age from 3 to 26.

1968: A Groundbreaking Beginning

Architect Marvin E. Beekman and founding principal John Breaugh opened one of the first schools in the world dedicated exclusively to students in center-based programs. At that time, no laws mandated formal education for students with special needs. Ingham ISD invested approximately $1.4 million in this visionary facility. Beekman Center was operated by Lansing School District until July, 2024, when Ingham ISD assumed operation of the school.

1978: Heartwood School Opens

After the opening of the Beekman Center in 1968, students receiving special education services continued to grow. The need for a second location serving students throughout the Ingham ISD service area increased and Heartwood School was opened in 1978. Heartwood School has been operated by Ingham ISD since its opening. 

Beekman Center

Key features of the new Beekman Center would include:

• Welcoming entrance with weather protected entrances to accommodate students with mobility challenges, ensuring safe access via bus and auto loops. 

• Spacious, Secure Vestibule: Visitors would enter through a secure vestibule directly accessible to the welcome center.

• Seamless Circulation: Easily supervised main pathway, flooded with natural light. 

• Interactive Streetscape: Specialized activity areas simulating daily experiences found in towns and villages supporting student life skill development.

• Flexible Learning Spaces: Universally designed classrooms would include adjacent restrooms and storage components to meet diverse needs of students.

• Outdoor Accessibility: Easy access to outdoor spaces from classroom houses as well as enhanced play areas, patios and walking paths and necessary improvements to driveways.

Heartwood School

Key features of the Heartwood School renovation would include:

• New Front Addition: Welcoming entrance featuring weather protected entrances to accommodate students with mobility challenges, ensuring safe access via bus and auto loops.

• The new addition would also include appropriate spaces for life skills instruction and therapeutic supports.

• Spacious, Secure Vestibule: Visitors would enter through a spacious, secure vestibule directly accessible through the arrival area.

• Seamless Circulation: Easily supervised main pathway flooded with natural light. 

• Remodeled Instructional Spaces: Remodeling to provide right-sized classrooms, add adjacent restrooms and storage areas, and introduce natural light into classrooms.

• Site Improvements: Outdoor amenities would include a new playscape for the ASD population and enhanced play areas, patios and walking paths as well as necessary improvements to driveways.