GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – The future of two former school sites will be centered on community feedback, and there is still time for you to add your voice.
Online feedback forms remain open through Wednesday, January 21, for both Alexander Elementary and Stocking Elementary schools. You can access those forms here on the Reimagine GRPS website.
Feedback received online, along with input shared during community meetings held on January 14 and 15, will be summarized and incorporated into the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued for each site. GRPS will use this feedback to evaluate whether submitted proposals align with community priorities.
This community engagement period marks the beginning of GRPS’s process to explore the potential disposition of the closed Alexander Elementary and Stocking Elementary schools. Here is the anticipated timeline:
- Week of January 26: Request for Proposals Distributed
- February 4: Site Tours
- February 18: Deadline for Submittal of Respondent Questions
- March 4: Answers to Respondent Questions Due
- April 1: Proposal Submittal Date
- Before April 27: Shortlist Respondents with GRPS Ad Hoc Facilities Committee
- After April 27: Respondent Interviews (if needed)
- May 1: Property Under Contract
GRPS launched the Reimagine GRPS with Us! plan in 2022, a comprehensive initiative guiding the district’s long-term planning. As part of this effort, GRPS developed a framework for reviewing and repurposing vacant, closed, and underutilized facilities. The framework outlines district priorities, community engagement expectations, and criteria for long-range decision-making regarding GRPS facilities and properties.
Voters approved a $305 million bond in 2023 to improve school facilities, enhance learning environments, and address excess building capacity across the district. Following the bond’s approval, the Grand Rapids Board of Education voted to close 10 schools as part of the district’s long-term planning efforts, opening new opportunities for property reuse in the community. As part of this plan, the Board has decided to first move forward with Alexander Elementary and Stocking Elementary schools.
