Laker Transitions Celebrates New Building with Open House and Ribbon Cutting

Laker Transitions ribbon cutting, May 19, 2022. Photo via Detroit Lakes Regional Chamber of Commerce

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Laker Transitions designed to help adult-aged students with special needs in making the transition from high school to adulthood will hold an open house in their new facility, Thursday.

Laker Transitions had been located at Detroit Lakes High School, but that meant special education students aged 18-21 weren’t able to move off-site after graduation to receive their post-graduation education and job training.

Wendy Fritz, the district’s transition facilitator for special education students says the new location on 1004 West River Rd in Detroit Lakes allows special education students an opportunity to become more independent, “Our students learn how to live as independently as they are capable of, whether that is cooking their own meals, grocery shopping, menu planning – they learn how to do laundry…everything that you need to do to live in your own space.”

Fritz says the School District is very proud of the program and building, which they approved a 15-year lease on in May of 2021 with an option to purchase the facility when the lease expires.

To celebrate the new building, Laker Transitions will hold an open house and ribbon cutting Thursday beginning at 10 a.m. through 5:30 p.m., the event is open to the public.