GRPS approves purchasing agenda, three budget amendments and several donations as district uses reserves to cover shortfall

Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday advanced several routine spending items and a set of budget amendments that together reduce the district's reserve position while allowing planned projects and grants to continue.

Ms. Cribbs, GRPS finance staff, said the district's per-pupil foundation allowance remains unchanged for 2024-25 at $9,608 and that a blended enrollment decline of about 138 full-time-equivalent students and no foundation-allowance increase together cost the district roughly $3.3 million in state revenue. "The per pupil amount is $9,608," Cribbs said. She told the board the amendment reduces projected general fund revenue by about $800,000 (from roughly $260.7 million to $259.8 million) while increasing expenditures by about $4.5 million, producing a net use of fund balance that brings the projected fund balance down to about $24.2 million.

The amendment and other measures were presented as part of a broader review of the purchasing agenda and grant awards for health-clinic renovations, surveillance camera purchases, wellness coaching contracts and construction-related furniture adjustments at Innovation Central. Cribbs also detailed state…