District News

Does GRPS have outside legal counsel assisting with negotiations?

GRPS has engaged additional locally based legal counsel to support negotiations with the GREA, as is common for school districts. We are grateful that this collaboration has led to four tentative agreements and a finalized calendar. We are hopeful that a final agreement will be reached soon that provides impactful raises for our educators and supports the long-term financial stability of our district.

How does the finalized state budget impact the 2025-26 GRPS budget?

The 2025-26 GRPS budget approved by the Board of Education was based on a state Foundation Allowance of $10,000 per pupil. The final state budget increased the Foundation Allowance to $10,050 per pupil, generating an additional $672,400 based on an enrollment of 13,448 scholars.

However, the state budget also eliminated Section 147a(1) funding for the Michigan Public School Employees' Retirement System (MPSERS), resulting in an estimated $1.17 million reduction in funding for GRPS. 

As a result, total unrestricted state funding for the 2025-26 school year is projected to be approximately $37 per pupil less than originally forecasted in the district’s budget.

Is it true that GRPS has a general fund balance of $40 million?

No. The district’s audited general fund balance was $30.9 million on June 30, 2025. The district currently projects a fund balance of $17.4 million on June 30, 2026.

Why hasn’t the latest GRPS proposal been shared with the community?

GRPS and the GREA are using the services of a state-appointed mediator, at no additional cost to the district or GREA, to assist the parties with reaching a consensus on the ongoing Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations. The negotiations that happen during mediation are confidential.

The final district proposal made before mediation is available to view here.

What is the teacher retention rate at GRPS?

95% of teachers from the end of the 2024-25 school year returned to the district for the start of the 2025-26 school year.

How does instructional spending at GRPS compare with other area districts?

GRPS ranks second among traditional school districts in Kent County on expenditures for instructional programming per pupil, according the Michigan Department of Education’s 1014 Bulletin published in February 2025. 

What budget cuts has the district made?

The district reduced spending by millions of dollars in the 2025-26 budget by implementing several district-level reductions, including:

• Eliminated 25 districtwide positions, including two Cabinet-level roles.
• Instituted a salary freeze for all non-union staff for the 2025-26 school year.
• Reduced multiple department budgets.
• Paused out-of-state conference travel unless fully covered by external or grant funding.