[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6667533,"mediaKeyId","2258666-afe12a653031e3470963064fb88aa0b9","parentId",2258666,"title","Students honored for MLK social-justice contest; STEM scholars praise Sankofa programs","audioSeconds",480,"startMs",121000,"endMs",601000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258666-afe12a653031e3470963064fb88aa0b9&start=121&end=601","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258666-afe12a653031e3470963064fb88aa0b9/thumbnail_121000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6667533/Michigan/Students-honored-for-MLK-social-justice-contest-STEM-scholars-praise-Sankofa-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667533-2ecd77a295274772f9f2033a3623b747/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437464&Signature=IfB3xjnHnJyVMEi3L7oDPnR390UGGqR5JPoGD2Ms8njSPbe~yJoOUb4IFOgWEqwNmjYUuqkfIMPA0oJVfifcVFFjw3~MKCwW7hGzyksYftT-GUL3Q6GoS2XC2DST9d1zrz7jIQuvfgkmaXvAa9dln~0J0hKeex6ohUyLJl4gaqdIndwte2LXAR8XNlUrV7j1Xwn3DcfXiu9yvCGp1~lX6wj17wjHJ3zHECJJBSjFWSxeRK2i0tq6EZSlhdz539QW5cFdbigZU6RHOOOyqjZh0EF-lT~2ePKY7xt7u200Ebt1N4xTR8GA7ZmhrFCbBBSnfaTIBPnblmIKGiQa1o1qog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Grand Rapids Public Schools","date","2025-02-11T17:03:17.68Z","article","Grand Rapids Public Schools recognized the winners of its 20th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Social Justice Contest during the Feb. 10 board meeting, and students from the Sankofa STEM Academy and STEM Scholars program offered public comments praising the program and its funders.

Kaleida Moore, director of the district’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, and partners at Warner Norcross and Judd (sponsor names as announced by the program) presented awards and prizes. The grand-prize winner received an Apple iPad and two tickets to Hamilton; the first runner-up received an Amazon Fire HD Plus tablet with a wireless charging dock and two Hamilton tickets; the second runner-up received a $100 gift card to the We Are Lit bookstore and two Hamilton tickets. The program recorded 185 submissions this year and 46 scholars received honorable mentions; honorable-mention recipients received $25 gift cards.

Student winners read their work at the meeting. One winner described a drawing about Trayvon Martin and said the piece was intended to show that \"police brutality is not a good thing.\" Another student read a poem referencing Maya Angelou’s \"The Mask\" and said the poem was meant to encourage readers to \"stand, not dismiss the truth.\" Moore said the Grand Rapids Public Museum will exhibit the scholars’ artwork throughout February for Black History Month.

During the public-comment period, students from Sankofa STEM Academy and the Sankofa STEM Scholars program spoke about the impact of hands-on learning, mentoring and early college exposure. Kyler Jackson, a Sankofa Scholar, told the board the program gave him \"skills and confidence\" and said attending sessions at Grand Rapids Community College helped him imagine future career pathways. Somaje Coleman, another student speaker, described team-building activities and mentors who helped the students develop problem-solving and communication skills. Both students thanked the Amway Foundation and the DeVos family for support mentioned during their remarks.

Why it matters: school-sponsored contests and in-district academies provide enrichment pathways and public recognition for student work; the museum exhibit extends community visibility for student art during Black History Month. Student testimony highlighted partnerships and private philanthropy that support supplementary STEM and leadership programming.

What happens next: district staff will follow up with logistic details for museum exhibit visitors and continue to highlight partner-supported student programs; no board action was required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","GRPS Board of Education Meeting -- February 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Grand Rapids Public Schools celebrated winners of the 20th annual MLK Social Justice Contest and several STEM Scholars from the Sankofa STEM Academy addressed the board to thank the district and program supporters for hands-on learning and mentoring opportunities.","taxTitle","Grand Rapids Public Schools, School Boards, Michigan","taxId",13449,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6667538,"GRPS facilities team outlines summer construction plan, parking-lot and auditorium projects",432,3733000,4165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258666-afe12a653031e3470963064fb88aa0b9&start=3733&end=4165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258666-afe12a653031e3470963064fb88aa0b9/thumbnail_3733000.jpg","/articles/6667538/Michigan/GRPS-facilities-team-outlines-summer-construction-plan-parking-lot-and-auditorium-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667538-261b2b5d2991d8f99ebb66d746cabb80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437464&Signature=EZitNOmTnjuDDnlV5kuMyDvZaws2AKTCX~P6sYd2r7rFTIALmCEG1zZXqHVo-DZrZjeaxLh5CRgOQW1bbKPJHEctAqCdCPRpKZgl3c-N2oXxcXrGOAFiZG97NW59sLuJwEvLIdm80mO7YbTd1cZ5iHVBQvMGkBFgPXdx0V9Er9MAwGKZE1ft-jQDh0gr46U6H2llhHuxBQREx2Ld1tdjdVBtw2TVqi8DQVozih9knXk~NDv~d~wqzyrCEiQbZFsHKCxH4vscIuFE8nQMsrbOqd1RcWmv~8queTD8F~AVzCNdsemauWknji1K35~cW5~F8~QjB9-KX9vKM4Xi5jYDSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Grand Rapids Public Schools facilities staff provided a bond and construction update at the Feb. 10 board meeting, outlining active projects, summer schedules and next steps for several schools and district sites.

Alex Mark, representing the facilities program, described summer-phase work at Sibley and Coit (phase 2), ongoing construction at 6B to prepare the building to receive students next fall, and site and systems work at Kuwait (HVAC, generator replacement and parking lot resurfacing). Mark said the district is phasing work when possible to complete major scope while students are out of the buildings.

Projects scheduled or in early construction include Houseman Field (turf replacement intended to be ready for fall use), auditorium renovations at Innovation Central and several high school auditoriums, secured-entrance work at Dickinson Elementary and playground-surface upgrades at Chavez Elementary. Parking-lot improvements will focus first on Innovation Central, Jeram Montessori and Congress Elementary, with Congress planned to receive a redesigned parent drop-off area to improve circulation and scholar safety. Mark said bids have been received and the district is working with construction managers; no supply-chain schedule issues were identified at the presentation.

Facilities staff also reported the district issued an RFP for real-estate owner-representative services and received four responses: Community Wealth Partners, JLL, Plante Moran Realpoint, and CBRE. Interviews were underway and a recommendation to the superintendent’s office is expected within a week or two. The RFP scoring rubric included experience (30%), approach and methodology (25%), community engagement (20%), fee structure (15%), and project outcomes/references (10%); trustees raised concerns that a 30% weight on prior experience could advantage large incumbent firms and limit opportunities for local or minority-owned firms.

Luke Steyer and Alex Mark took several trustee questions about phasing, site access and opportunities for board tours of active construction. Mark said 6B — being converted to a secondary school facility — is \"down to the studs\" and on track for an August opening. Work at Briggs/Bricks field (reported as \"Briksfield\" in the meeting) and several parking-lot projects were described as either starting after graduation or, in a few cases, mobilizing earlier to meet fall-use targets.

No formal vote occurred on the bond update itself; several bond-related bid items were brought up in the consent agenda later in the meeting and were approved as part of the consent package.

Why it matters: the bond program includes capital investments that affect school safety, instructional space and operating costs. Timeline changes, phasing decisions and contractor selection influence when classrooms and athletic facilities will be available and whether planned safety upgrades (for example, secured entrances) will be completed before the next school year.

What happens next: facilities staff will return to the board with schedule updates and bid awards as individual procurements proceed. The owner-representative recommendation will be routed to the superintendent and then to finance/board as required.","District facilities staff presented a detailed bond-program update describing summer construction phases — including Sibley and 6B renovations, field turf installation, parking-lot work, auditorium upgrades and secured entrances — and reported an RFP process underway for real-estate owner-representative services.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6667543,"Grand Rapids school board adopts statement committing to support immigrant families, forms advisory group",5131,1606000,6737000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2258666-afe12a653031e3470963064fb88aa0b9&start=1606&end=6737","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2258666-afe12a653031e3470963064fb88aa0b9/thumbnail_1606000.jpg","/articles/6667543/Michigan/Grand-Rapids-school-board-adopts-statement-committing-to-support-immigrant-families-forms-advisory-group","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6667543-47a687a812f4c025b7fa79f45e9d908f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437464&Signature=TH9PDOIKgRlk7FIdyyrgphxfwzXKQLkXJl5EvH~62XMfbdkXpqXCfE3cYuautPPn0nZn5XWC5QD2WAKbrCOUAyfGbCNQGjafsEZlrzGFjphS22Z4PEy-Moofi0dWzgnJFgQV2FMTapvNUeSCGF~ul9hNI5eN47MIjN8tFJ6mO4cs5fkZzlGn4QkA7JfRG7dlh5~VtV-KZDMqpiBlZV5MlMgssSnbfyZDzEHowR8RqeQsahMhh4F0ECE7JCtNO0~BkDcdTnhd-~QMFqKGs2ECugQpzGC8kSkZ--4zw6WGElaPSoIw-ZylXIoNhZzheuUDXQGNJOpqrVrV8UkcgHmlcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education on Feb. 10 approved a board statement committing the district to support immigrant families and directed creation of an advisory committee to review and recommend updates to district policies and resources related to immigrant and marginalized families.

The action followed public comments from community members and parents urging clearer, written protections for undocumented students and families. Ismalis Nunez, a community member who said she signed an Action Network petition, told the board she was \"deeply disappointed\" that voices had been suppressed at an earlier working meeting and asked for a measurable policy so the district could \"ensure safety for all students.\" Nunez said, \"Without a clear measurable policy there are no guarantees.\"

Board members spent more than an hour discussing the statement and the committee’s role. Trustee Moreno (board trustee) praised district communications and the proposed advisory group, saying she was \"most excited about the advisory group\" and the opportunity to involve partners and school staff. Trustee Melton (board trustee) emphasized that board and district policies already address many procedures and urged that any statement be consistent with existing policies. Trustee Williamson (board trustee) said the advisory group should make recommendations that the board would vote on rather than be delegated authority to make policy by itself.

Superintendent Roby (Superintendent) and district legal counsel reviewed edits to the draft; the board agreed to a legal-language revision and inserted language making clear that the advisory committee will \"review, refine and recommend updates to policies and resources,\" rather than unilaterally setting policy. Trustee Williamson said the advisory group should bring recommendations so the board can take formal action. Trustee Williams (board trustee) expressed concern about creating an appearance of targeting the district, given political activity in Lansing, but said he supported further policy work.

Board President Davis (board president) said she had appointed Vice President Wade to chair the advisory committee and named Trustees Davis and Moreno to serve; Superintendent Roby will appoint cabinet members and the district is working to include building leaders and community partners. The board president said the committee would be scheduled as soon as memberships are finalized.

A motion to adopt the revised statement and to form the advisory committee passed by voice vote; the board recorded no roll-call tally for that vote. The transcript records the chair asking \"All in favor say aye\" and, after a voice response, \"Okay. Motion carries.\" The board later confirmed appointments to the advisory group during meeting announcements.

Why it matters: board-level statements and advisory bodies shape whether and how a district translates community concerns into enforceable procedures for staff and school sites. Speakers at the meeting urged explicit, measurable protections for students and families, including staff training and limits on how and when non-district officials interact with students.

What happens next: the advisory committee will meet to review existing policies and district procedures, identify gaps, and bring recommendations to the board for formal action. The board inserted explicit language so that the advisory committee is advisory in nature and will recommend policy changes, not enact them.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the statement of commitment to support immigrant families and established the advisory committee by voice vote; the meeting record shows the motion was seconded and \"carried\" with no recorded roll-call tally.

","The Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education voted to approve a statement of commitment to support immigrant families and to establish an advisory committee to review and recommend policy updates; the vote was taken by voice and carried by the board.","actionData","errors"]

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Students honored for MLK social-justice contest; STEM scholars praise Sankofa programs

GRPS facilities team outlines summer construction plan, parking-lot and auditorium projects

Grand Rapids school board adopts statement committing to support immigrant families, forms advisory group