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Teachers, parents and union members press Grand Rapids board for higher pay and more staff
Summary
At a reconvened Grand Rapids Board of Education meeting, more than a hundred public commenters — including GRPS teachers, parents and union leaders — urged the board to raise educator pay, address widespread vacancies and fix special-education staffing shortages as contract talks continue.
Hundreds of community members filled the Grand Rapids Board of Education meeting on Sept. 15 to press the board for higher teacher pay and faster action on staffing shortages, particularly in special education.
The public-comment period featured dozens of teachers, parents and union representatives who said low wages and chronic vacancies were forcing educators to leave GRPS, harming student learning and forcing families to consider other districts.
“We need to have a place and a space for our scholars to continue to learn and grow,” said Jolene Andrews, identifying herself with Southwest Elementary. Andrews told the board she checked neighboring districts and found 56 open certified teaching positions listed for GRPS compared with single-digit vacancies in many nearby districts. “GRPS can’t afford to not pay its teachers better,” she said.
Special-education teachers and parents gave specific counts of understaffing. Kaitlyn Homewood, who said she works in special education, listed vacancies across multiple buildings and estimated roughly 132 students affected by missing or unfilled special-education positions. “Students…
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