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Local entrepreneur pitches esports partnerships, scholarships to Grand Rapids Public Schools
Summary
A public commenter proposed district partnerships for esports programming, college scholarships and summer activities, asking the district to participate in events that could lead to scholarships and local economic benefits.
Dee Jones, a local pastor and entrepreneur, used the Finance Committee public-comment period to urge Grand Rapids Public Schools to support esports programming and related partnerships.
Jones said he has helped make esports an item of municipal focus and described plans to partner with Kent ISD and Ferris State University to create summer programming and varsity scholarships. “Ferris State University is gonna be start offering varsity scholarships, and they'll be advising us through this entire summer in programming,” Jones said.
Jones framed esports as both an alternative summer activity and an economic opportunity, saying regional finals could be hosted at DeVos Place during Comic Con and that the district’s students could win scholarships and participate in events that draw tourism revenue.
Jones also discussed connecting esports with financial-literacy programming and new technologies used in gaming, saying the work could provide learning and career pathways for students aged roughly 13 and up.
The committee did not take action on Jones’s proposal during the March 24 meeting; his remarks were recorded during the public-comment portion of the agenda.
Committee members did not debate or direct staff to take formal steps on the proposal during the meeting.
