District News

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) -- Grand Rapids Montessori Elementary School scholars will start the school year late following unexpected construction delays at the school.

Instead of starting on Tuesday, August 22 with the rest of the district, GR Montessori Elementary students will not start school until at least Monday. This change only applies to GR Montessori Elementary. The GR Montessori Middle High School and the remainder of the Grand Rapids Public School district will still start school on August 22.

The building located at 159 College Ave. NE in Grand Rapids has undergone extensive renovations over the summer to add air conditioning and an upgraded heating system to the building.

Because of supply and construction delays, staff was not able to access the building with enough time to properly prepare for the school year.

“Our team pushed really hard to keep the first day of school on schedule. We’ve made significant progress and are confident the building would have been ready in time for the start of school. Nonetheless, it became apparent that our staff needed more time to set up classrooms and get prepared to welcome scholars,” GRPS Superintendent Dr. Leadriane Roby. “After visiting the school over the weekend and talking with the building staff, we decided that a delayed start was most appropriate.”

In addition to timing concerns, starting late Monday morning district administrators received four reports of staff members experiencing mild respiratory illness after being at the GR Montessori building. After receiving those reports, the district decided to stop access to the building until all air testing results are returned. Because of this decision, parents were notified that GR Montessori Elementary scholars will not return to class before Monday, August 28.

Families will receive daily updates with information as it becomes available.

Renovation work at the school will continue through the fall.