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Board discusses new online program; staff budgeted 42 slots and report early enrollment of 10
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Summary
Board members discussed the district’s new online program (budgeted at 42 students) and early summer enrollments. Staff said ten students were enrolled so far and that recruitment, timing and operational questions remain; principals and program partners will refine procedures during the first year.
The Grand Rapids Public School District board spent part of its June 16 meeting discussing the district’s newly launched online option, which is budgeted at 42 students for FY26.
Business staff said the district has already received 10 online enrollments as of mid‑June and that weekly enrollment tracking will continue through July and August. Kara said she and Superintendent Gross receive enrollment reports and can monitor increases as families finalize fall plans: "We monitor this very closely. Weekly, we're — Matt and I are getting reports as to our enrollment," she said.
Board members debated how aggressive the district should be about marketing the online option. One member said the district has not undertaken broad public marketing and has focused instead on direct outreach to district students already enrolled elsewhere, though staff said they could pursue additional open houses or outreach later in the summer.
The board also discussed operational questions the district will resolve during the first year: transfers in and out shortly after the start of school, the supervisory burden on principals assigned to oversee online learners, and likely timing for when families finalize choices. Superintendent Gross said the district intends to "ease into it" during the first year and to evaluate how much administrative time principals must spend managing the program.
Board members expressed a shared emphasis on quality: they said the district should avoid growing the online program purely as a budget fix and should ensure students receive the educational experience expected from Grand Rapids schools. The board asked staff to return with operational specifics as enrollment and program experience accumulate.
