GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Michigan News Source) –  Grand Rapids school board members voted unanimously Monday night to close ten of its schools for declining enrollment by 2031 as it exacts its ‘Reimagine Grand Rapids Public School’ plan.

The plan estimates that it will save the district more than $60 million in deferred maintenance costs, primarily for facilities, and more than $2 million in annual routine maintenance to buildings. 

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“These savings will improve the financial health of the district and allow us to invest the resources we have in ways that more directly improve GRPS for our scholars and staff including the competitiveness of wages we’re able to offer,” GRPS Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Kribs said. “The dollars provided to educate our children are limited and we owe it to our scholars to use them in ways that have the most significant and direct impact on their lives.”

The move received the board’s unanimous approval.

The Grand Rapids Board of Education voted unanimously to approve recommendations set forth by the GRPS district leaders, informed by the input of more than 2,000 community members feedback. A large part of the plan features reviewing how to heighten utilization rates in the district according to GRPS. 

“Currently, our buildings are only half full,” said GRPS in a statement. “These recommendations are designed to bring the utilization rate to an estimated 73% districtwide. Ensuring comfort for our scholars, plans include providing air conditioning in every academic building by 2029.” 

The first phase of the transition begins in the next school year with the phasing out of several elementary and middle schools. GRPS Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby shared her thoughts on the vote. 

“This vote means that our team can immediately get to work on improving the education of the scholars we serve today and for generations to come. Even before the end of this year, our team will begin paving the way for this work to begin immediately,” said Dr. Roby. “This will be a game changer for our full community and it will have a direct impact on the success of our children for generations to come. I’m excited to see the work begin and the improvement this brings for those we serve.”

What does the plan include?

The plan includes repurposing and consolidating programs within the ten school buildings according to the GRPS. 

“All scholars moving to new school buildings as a result of this work will move to educational spaces in better condition,” GRPS said in a statement. 

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State Representative Kristain Grant (D-Grand Rapids) shared in an interview with Michigan News Source that while many are focusing on schools closing, “that’s only one step in the plan.” 

“The reality is that Districts across the country are seeing massive shortages in staff and teachers, as well as massive decreases in the number of students that we are serving,” she said in the interview. “We have schools that are nowhere near being full, but they still take the same number of staff and teachers to run them. One school might be missing a Spanish teacher, the other school is missing a math teacher, the other school doesn’t have a lunch lady or para-pro but the number of students are still so low. “ 

Rather, the emphasis is on consolidation according to Rep. Grant, who also formerly served as the President of the Grand Rapids Public School Board of Education. 

“It’s less about closures and more about consolidation, it’s saying we’re mismanaging our resources right now, and students are the ones who are being hurt by it. So let’s consolidate these schools, but we’re also consolidating dollars, we’re consolidating staff, making sure that buildings have a full experience, a full team, versus just getting a partial one.” 

No layoffs are predicted.

The district also declared that “no layoffs will occur as a result of the consolidation work.” 

“There is a place for everyone, under this plan,” Dr. Roby said. “The work of reimagining our school district continues and we need all hands on deck. We have a tremendous team of some of the best educators anywhere and we’re excited to work hand-in-hand with them to set an even brighter course for the future of our schools.”

Rep. Grant also praised the district’s choice to retain ownership of the buildings even after students are transferred to other schools. 

“As president the main concern of mine was that these properties are not for sale,” “this privatizes people’s neighborhoods and it causes them to be pushed out and there are a lot of concerns about what that means for their daily lives.”

This plan isn’t about the next five or ten years according to Rep. Grant but rather the next 50 to 100 years. 

“We might not need classroom space right now, because people aren’t having as many students,” she said in the interview. “But 50 years from now, that may change. It is really important for the district to retain ownership so that A) our families and students aren’t displaced, but B) we can continue to serve them the way they need to be served. 

Other community needs according to Rep. Grant include housing, particularly for teachers, as well as community space and after school space. 

“I am so proud of the district and board for continuing these conversations and asking the community how we can work with you to address the needs the community has right now, and we can use that space to address them.” 

What’s the timeline?

A rough timeline for the transition can be found here, which features some big moves within the next couple years: 

2024-2025

  • East Leonard Elementary and Stocking Elementary relocate. 
  • Stocking families transition to Sibley Elementary or Harrison Park Academy.
  • East Leonard families move to Coit Creative Arts Academy or Kent Hills Elementary.

2025-2026

  • Alger Middle School scholars move to Ottawa Campus. 
  • Alger Middle undergoes renovation for a new elementary school (soon to be new home to Brookside Elementary). 
  • Innovation Central introduces a new middle school program, accepting scholars from Riverside Middle.
  • Ken-O-Sha scholars relocate to nearby Sherwood Park for one year, allowing for a complete renovation at Ken-O-Sha without impacting learning.
  • Riverside undergoes addition and renovation for a new Montessori campus.
  • Southeast Career Pathways program moves to renovated space at the former Sigsbee School site. 

2026-2027

  • Renovated Ken-O-Sha campus opens with a new environmental science program and International Baccalaureate Global Studies program. 
  • Alger Middle opens as a new elementary school and accepts scholars from Brookside Elementary. 
  • All PK-12 Montessori programming on the north side consolidates at the renovated and expanded Riverside campus. 

GRPS is rated the 6th largest school district in the state, currently containing more than 13,000 students and 51 schools.