GRPS - Building on Success: Planning the schools of the future

[ModSquad]

The following is an open letter to all of Grand Rapids from GRPS. I have heard lots of grousing and armchair quarterbacking on this site regarding GRPS. Well, folks now is your chance to speak out and get your opinions heard. It would be great to see a good showing of Urban Planet folks at these events:

Dear Business, Community, Neighborhood, and Elected Leaders:

The future success and revitalization of Grand Rapids Public Schools is

key to our regional economy, workforce development efforts, and ability

to attract families and job providers to the area.

GRPS is at a turning point - after seven plus years of

rightsizing reforms, more than $60 million in budget cuts

(out of a $220 million budget), consolidation, and school closings - and

new attention, energy, and momentum is helping to drive the district

toward further success and improvement.

Thanks to voter approval and taxpayer support of the 2004 school bond,

we have new and improved 21st Century-equipped state-of-the-art

elementary and middle schools that are maintaining and attracting new

students.

Thanks to the Doug and Maria DeVos Foundation, we are using

award-winning reform strategies to transform our instructional practices

and create effort-based schools so every child in every classroom has

access to rigorous and coherent educational learning experiences.

Thanks to the vision and commitment of business and community leaders,

we have developed the Centers of Innovation - a new process aimed

at creating a pilot school model to foster public-private partnerships

and offer students and parents more school choices and opportunities for

improving student achievement.

Now, WE NEED YOU - and your employees, neighbors, co-workers, friends

and family - to participate in an all inclusive, community-oriented

process to establish the vision, set the course, and plan for the

schools of the future.

Regardless of whether or not you live or work in the city or your

students go to GRPS or not, YOU/WE ALL HAVE A STAKE IN GRPS. .

SIGN UP TODAY - and take part in the transformation and revitalization

of GRPS - for the children, our economy, and the future!

"Building on Success: Planning the Schools of the Future"

Community Dialogue Meetings

December 10th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm

1. Palmer Elementary School - 309 Palmer SE

2. Central High School - 421 Fountain St. NE

December 11th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm

1. Union High School - 1800 Tremont NW

2. Alger Middle School - 921 Alger SE

December 11th from 9:00am - 11:00am

1. Rev. Lyman S. Parks Administration Bldg - 1331 Franklin SE

Childcare and refreshments will be available. For more information or

to RSVP, contact our communications office at 819-2148 or

[email protected].

John Helmholdt

Communications & External Affairs

Grand Rapids Public Schools

PO Box 117

Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0117

W. 616-819-3740

F. 616-819-2051

C. 616-481-2152

[twoshort]

What exactly goes on at a :

"Building on Success: Planning the Schools of the Future"

Community Dialogue Meetings

[ModSquad]

What exactly goes on at a :

"Building on Success: Planning the Schools of the Future"

Community Dialogue Meetings