October 29, 2025

GRPS and GREA finalize calendar and reach four tentative agreements

GRPS is pleased to announce that bargaining representatives from the district and the Grand Rapids Education Association (GREA) have finalized the 2025–26 school year calendar and reached four additional tentative agreements.

School: GRPS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – GRPS is pleased to announce that bargaining representatives from the district and the Grand Rapids Education Association (GREA) have finalized the 2025–26 school year calendar and reached four additional tentative agreements.

The finalized calendar is available to view below. Compared to last year’s calendar, it includes three fewer contractual workdays for GREA employees while maintaining the same rate of pay.

The four additional tentative agreements reached provide additional benefits to the GREA and individual teachers:

GRPS agreed to coordinate a sick day donation program with the GREA to enable bargaining unit employees who cannot work due to a disability to obtain additional paid leave time to avoid financial hardship. GRPS will be one of only a handful of school districts in the state who provide this benefit.
GRPS agreed to use the District’s Human Resources department to administer GREA dues deductions from bargaining unit employees’ paychecks who “opt in” to the dues deduction. GRPS is one of the few school districts from the region who provide this service to employees.
The GREA has proposed that GRPS offer professional development to GREA employees and count the professional development days towards the state requirement of 180 instructional days as permitted under Michigan law. GRPS has agreed to establish a committee to explore this option for the 2026-27 school year. GRPS recognizes the importance of professional development but also believes that maximizing instructional time is key to scholar growth.
The parties agreed to a procedure for assigning teachers and filling vacant positions.

GRPS is thankful that the mediation process has resulted in four tentative agreements and a much-needed agreement on the 2025-26 calendar.

In September, GRPS also proposed an increased salary proposal. Because mediation is a confidential process, GRPS is prohibited from sharing its current salary proposal. GRPS is considering a proposal that the mediator presented to both parties in an attempt to resolve all outstanding issues.

GRPS is grateful for the mediator’s hard work to provide an independent review of the outstanding issues and attempt to find a path to settlement.