A new plan being proposed by Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) Superintendent Bert Bleke would make significant changes to the Grand Rapids Public Schools in order to save the district money in light of decreasing enrollment. Some of the highlights of the plan:
- Alter Central High School to be a smaller attendance high school with only one middle school feeder (Burton Middle School)
- Relocate City Middle and High School into the Northeast Middle School building
- Consolidate Montessori programs into former City High building, Central High School, and Fountain Elementary
- Combine Jefferson and Dickenson elementary schools, close Fountain elementary, and close either North Park, Aberdeen, Eastern, or East Leonard by 2007
- Sell numerous buildings including GR Tech, 811 Jefferson, Beckwith, Lexington, Straight, Iroquois, Vandenburg, Oakdale, and Kensington
The full "Facilities and Development Plan Recommendations" are available online. Public meetings on the plan are scheduled for January 3, 2006 and January 7, 2006 with the Board of Education expected to vote on the plan on January 17.
