Welcome to Besser Elementary
Besser Elementary School is located in the City of Alpena in northeastern Michigan. We are one of six elementary schools currently operated by the Alpena Public School District. Besser serves a population of approximately 455 K-5 students from the City and Township of Alpena.
Besser Calendar
![]() ![]() |
||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S | M | T | W | T | F | S | ||||||||||||
1 | ||||||||||||||||||
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||||||||||||
9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13
|
14
|
15 | ||||||||||||
16 |
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
||||||||||||
23
|
24
|
25 | 26 |
27
|
28 | 29 | ||||||||||||
30 | 31 |
Bid Request: K-5 Math Curriculum
Alpena Public Schools (APS) will accept sealed competitive proposals for a comprehensive Mathematics Curriculum for grades K-5.

March 2025 APS Superintendent Update
3.5.25
APS Strategic Plan
At its August 26, 2025, Regular Meeting, the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education officially adopted a 3-5-year Strategic Plan—a roadmap created to guide our district’s growth and success.
This process officially began on February 24, 2024, when more than 50 students, staff, administrators, Board of Education members, and community stakeholders came together to identify the district’s strengths and areas for improvement. From there, the Board, administration, and district leadership teams worked collaboratively to refine a plan that addresses the current and future needs of our students, schools, and community.
Since the plan’s adoption, we have been focused on defining, assessing, and strengthening our systems, language, protocols, and practices to ensure they are aligned with the needs of our students and staff. Every step forward is intentional and measurable.
The Strategic Plan is built around five key goal areas, all supporting the district’s mission:
Academics & Programs – Delivering high-quality instruction to maximize student achievement.
Whole-Child Development – Providing supports that foster student engagement, growth, and well-being.
Personnel – Attracting, recruiting, retaining, and developing highly qualified staff.
Family & Community Partnership – Strengthening relationships with families and community partners.
Stewardship – Advancing and maintaining a long-term sustainability plan.
The plan is structured using the Michigan Integrated Continuous Improvement Process (MICIP), ensuring that each goal area includes strategies and implementation activities that are monitored and measured for ongoing progress.
The foundation of this plan is continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, communication, monitoring, and support. Together, these principles will help us create the best possible learning environment for all APS students.
We are excited to move forward with this plan and will continue to share updates as we implement meaningful changes for our schools and community.

Location change APS Board Meeting 2/24/25 to AHS
Location change to Alpena High School Wildcat Den (Library) for the 5:30 PM 2/24/25 APS Board Meeting. Strategic Planning Summit to follow at 6 PM.

APS BOARD OF EDUCATION Strategic Planning Meeting
BOARD OF EDUCATION Strategic Planning Meeting Monday, February 24, 2025 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. AHS Wildcat Den 3303 S. Third Ave. Alpena, MI 49707
Main Office Personnel
Schedule
- 8:20 - Doors Open/Breakfast
- 8:33 - Instruction Begins
- 3:42 - Dismissal
Half Day Dismissal is 11:45 am
-
24 Mar
-
APS Classes ResumeDate: Mar 24Calendar: District Calendar
-
-
27 Mar
-
Besser PAC Meeting 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMBesser PAC MeetingDate: Mar 27Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMCalendar: Besser Elementary Calendar
-
-
17 Apr
-
Besser PAC Meeting 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMBesser PAC MeetingDate: Apr 17Time: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PMCalendar: Besser Elementary Calendar
-
-
18 Apr
-
No School - Good FridayDate: Apr 18Calendar: District Calendar
-
-
21 Apr
-
No School - Easter MondayDate: Apr 21Calendar: District Calendar
-
History
Located on twenty acres of land donated by local philanthropist Jesse Besser, the school opened in 1958 as an elementary school of the K-8 Thunder Bay School District. Besser became part of Alpena Public Schools as a junior high school in 1963. Due to declining enrollment, Besser was closed from 1983 until it reopened in 1986 as an elementary school.