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Students, teachers and neighbors urge GRPS board to preserve choir, arts and mental‑health supports amid budget cuts
Summary
More than two dozen public commenters — including choir students, teachers and parents — told the Grand Rapids Public Schools board that proposed cuts to music, choir, STEM and counseling services will harm students’ mental health and opportunities; trustees acknowledged funding pressures and called for state advocacy while staff said decisions are difficult and ongoing.
Numerous students, teachers and community members used the public‑comment period at the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education meeting on May 11 to urge the board to preserve arts programs, extracurriculars and district mental‑health staffing as budget reductions are implemented.
Middle‑ and high‑school choir students described choir as a "safe space" and warned that cuts would harm students’ mental health and academic outcomes. Seventh‑grader Ramona Scott Moon told trustees the choir provides emotionally supportive community for middle‑school students; another student, Leah Osmolinski, described choir as critical to her recovery from anxiety and depression and said the program gave her confidence.
Teachers, principals and program leaders told the board that cuts…
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